0×26

0x26 is a hexadecimal numeral commonly used in computer programming to denote the decimal value 38. The prefix 0x indicates base-16 notation in many languages, after which the digits 26 specify the value. In decimal this is 38; in binary it is 0010 0110. Some representations also show the binary form as 0b00100110 in languages that use a 0b prefix for binary literals.

In the ASCII character set, hexadecimal 26 corresponds to the ampersand character (&). In Unicode, the code point U+0026 denotes the same character. This connection means that 0x26 can appear in contexts ranging from low-level data handling to text processing, where the literal may represent either the character '&' or the numeric value 38, depending on context.

Common uses of hex literals like 0x26 include defining constants, bit masks, and configuration flags in source code. For example, a programmer might combine multiple bit flags using hex constants to improve readability when working with binary data or hardware registers.

A variant form sometimes seen is 0×26, where the multiplication sign replaces the Latin letter x. In programming practice, 0x26 is the standard representation; 0×26 is generally considered nonstandard and may be a typographical error or font issue. When encountered, it is prudent to interpret it in the same way as 0x26 if the surrounding text discusses hexadecimal numbers.

Related topics include hexadecimal notation, binary representation, ASCII, and Unicode code points. Understanding 0x26 involves both its numeric value and its role as a character encoding symbol in computing.