# Binary: How to see the 1's and 0's

{% file src="/files/-L\_iE4jwnoL2\_osBFr\_2" %}

Let's look at the word Hello typed twelve times and saved as plaintext file in Linux (left), and in Windows (right). (You can download this pair of files at the link above.)

![](/files/-L_i9HV9UeOePO12Txxe)

Even though the files both contain the same 12 hellos, the filesize on the left is smaller. Interesting! To see what's going on, check the same files using a HexCompare session. (From a FolderCompare session rightclick the files and do `OpenAs->HexCompare`. Or do from the pulldown menu: `Session->NewSession->HexCompare` and drag over with a mouse two files of *twelve\_hellos.txt*)

![](/files/-L_i9PMtTxY8Uf3pwuV0)

On the left, hex compare shows us what the machine sees in your file (0123456789abcdef to represent the 001011010101110100011101010101010110!) And on the right, in pink, for the benefit of humans, we see  a UTF translation of this into actual characters.  I apologize: this is the Windows file.  It got switched while I was making the image examples.

When you start learning how to use BC it becomes like a magnifying glass. It's like a magnifying glass because it gives you a license to walk around and inspect things (or even set them on fire in sunlight?). This has obvious applications as digital forensic tools and in minute scanning of sectors for malware and security problems.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/other/how-to-see-the-1s-and-0s-in-a-text-file.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.