How to Convert Bytes to Int in Python?


In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to convert bytes to integers in Python. Converting bytes to integers is a common task when dealing with binary data, such as reading data from files or network sockets. By converting bytes to integers, we can perform various arithmetic and logical operations, interpret data, and manipulate it as needed. So, let's dive in and learn how to seamlessly convert bytes to integers in Python

How to Convert Bytes to Int in Python using the `int.from_bytes()` method?

The `int.from_bytes()` method allows us to create an integer from a given sequence of bytes. It takes two parameters: the bytes we want to convert and the byte order, which specifies how the bytes are arranged. The byte order can be either "big" or "little," depending on the arrangement of bytes in memory.

To illustrate this method, consider the following example. Let's say we have a sequence of four bytes representing the number 170 in little-endian byte order: `bytes = b'\xAA\x00\x00\x00'`. We can convert these bytes to an integer using the `int.from_bytes()` method as shown below:

Example

bytes = b'\xAA\x00\x00\x00'
integer = int.from_bytes(bytes, byteorder='little')
print(integer)

In this example, we pass the `bytes` variable and specify the byte order as 'little' to indicate that the least significant byte comes first. The output will be:

Output

170

The `int.from_bytes()` method also provides optional parameters that we can utilize for more control over the conversion process. The `signed` parameter, when set to `True`, allows the interpretation of the byte sequence as a signed integer. If omitted or set to `False`, the resulting integer will be unsigned. For instance, let's modify the previous example to interpret the bytes as a signed integer:

Example

bytes = b'\xAA\x00\x00\x00'
integer = int.from_bytes(bytes, byteorder='little', signed=True)
print(integer)

As you can see, we’ve set the signed parameter as True in the int.from_bytes() method indicating that the resulting integer will be signed. The output in this case will be:

Output

-86

As you can see, by specifying the `signed` parameter as `True`, we interpret the byte sequence as a signed integer, and the resulting output is `-86`. So, we’ve successfully converted bytes to int in Python.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the process of converting bytes to integers in Python using the `int.from_bytes()` method. Converting bytes to integers is a crucial skill when working with binary data, enabling us to perform arithmetic operations, interpret data, and manipulate it as needed. We provided a clear explanation of the `int.from_bytes()` method and demonstrated its usage through an example. We showcased how to convert a sequence of bytes representing the number 170 in little-endian byte order to an integer. Additionally, we discussed the optional parameters, such as the `signed` parameter, which allows us to interpret the byte sequence as a signed integer. We provided examples for each of these methods, showcasing their outputs.

Updated on: 21-Jul-2023

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