An hex editor (or binary file editor or byte editor) is a type of computer program that allows a user to manipulate binary (normally non-plain text) computer files. Hex editors that were designed to edit sector data from floppy or hard disks were sometimes called sector editors or disk editors.

By using an hex editor, a user can see or edit the raw and exact contents of a file as opposed to the interpretation of the same content that other, higher level application software may associate with the file format. For example,this could be raw image data, in contrast to the way image editing software would interpret the same file.

The Wikipedia definition of Hex Editor

The 2011 Member Choice Poll has been completed and DSLR/BBR members casted votes.
It was a multiple choice poll.

The winner by a clear margin was Notepad++
At second place was "none", and at third place was UltraEdit.

The full list of programs we did explore, is here:

• Crimson Editor
• Cygnus Hex Editor
• EditPad
• EditPlus
• FlexHEX
• Frhed
• gedit
• Hackman Suite
• HexEdit
• Hex Editor Neo
• Hex Workshop
• HxD
• jEdit
• Kate - KWrite
• KEDIT
• Metapad
• Notepad2
• Notepad++
• NoteTab
• PSPad
• Resource Hacker
• SCIntilla
• SciTE
• TextPad
• TextWrangler
• UltraEdit
• Vim
• Win32Pad
• WinHex
• XN Resource Editor
• XVI32 Hex Editor
• Other - Please specify
• None

Other programs mentioned by members:

• Notepad
• Wordpad
• TextEdit (Mac)
• Hexplorer
• Emacs

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by Jrb2 edited by lilhurricane
last modified: 2011-06-11 14:57:04