> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/other/binary.md).

# Binary

Use Beyond Compare to see (and edit!) the actual bits and bytes of your files.

Let's view two text files, one typed on Windows and the other typed on a Mac.  One is larger than the other.  This is because the invisible line-endings are longer on text files made by PC's.  To get this view: `Session->NewSession->TextCompare`.  Then drag your two files in with a mouse.

![Opening the two files in Text Compare, Beyond Compare displays the appropriate letters.](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaH4_oVYTXfCLPLxFWH%2F-LaH4fgfJRN9bRrC1GWS%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=c3b96664-873d-4b3c-82b6-5ff55d6be5b1)

Here are the same two text files, represented as their hexadecimal bytes.  To get this view: `Session->NewSession->HexCompare`.  Then drag your two files in with a mouse.

![Opening the two files in Hex Compare, Beyond Compare shows the hexadecimal bytes](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaH4_oVYTXfCLPLxFWH%2F-LaH4ijVvUYg29lXFz-l%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=85be4222-e610-414a-85ad-901b23a40d19)

### Binary check anything:

For on-the-fly binary checking, the bottom window on every page has a right-click binary viewer context menu: 

![](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaLcS1QwVa4Pc-CGzaw%2F-LaLccBUB6PkBMVJpV34%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3f557f81-4566-4ce5-b5a1-7b48ab76f826)

### Students

If you are a hobbyist, or educator, don't worry, you can try all this out without paying anything at first.  Beyond Compare software will run at no cost for a month (30 total days, so probably more than a month). Download Beyond Compare for Mac, Linux, and Windows at [Scooter Software](http://www.scootersoftware.com/download.php) of Madison, Wisconsin.