Also known as binary file editors or byte editors, hex editors are computer programs designed for the manipulation of the binary data that makes up a computer file.
Its name comes from hexadecimal, a standard numerical format used to represent binary data. A computer file generally occupies multiple areas on the platter of a hard disk drive, and its contents are combined to form the file.
Hex editors are sometimes confused with disk editors, which are used to read, edit, and write raw data to computer hard drives and other removable media. Sometimes known as sector editors, a disk editor differs from a hex editor in that, while the latter is used to edit files, the former has access to the underlying disk structures, such as the master boot record, volume boot records, file system, and directories. Several hex editors also have disk editor features.
With a hex editor, a user can view and edit the raw contents of a file, as opposed to the interpretation of the same content that higher-level application software might associate with the file format. In other words, this might be raw image data, rather than the way in which image editing software would interpret and display the same file.
Hex editors are used for correcting corrupted data and may be used to bypass application edit checks that would otherwise prevent the correction of erroneous data, as well as to patch executable programs in order to change or add a few instructions rather than recompiling the program.
In hex editor applications, the data of the computer file is usually represented as hexadecimal values assorted into four groups of four bytes, or two groups of eight bytes, followed by one group of sixteen printable ASCII characters that correspond to each pair of hex values. Non-printable ASCII characters and those that would take more than one character space, such as a tab, are usually represented by a dot in the following ASCII field.
Some hex editors include a template system that can be used to present the sequence of bytes in a binary file in a structured manner, covering all or part of the desired file format. The template GUI is often displayed in a separate tool window next to the main hex editor and some consist only of a template GUI.
Hex editors may also include a scripting system that can be used to create macro-like functions, as a sequence of user interface commands that automate common tasks. Some scripting languages resemble MS-DOS batch files, while others are full scripting languages like Lua or Python.
Plugins may extend the functionality of the editor.
The focus of this category is on hex editors.
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Tested, and found to run on FreeBSD, HP-UX, IRIX, Linux, macOS, NetBSD, and Solaris operating systems, DHEX is a hex editor that includes a diff mode, which can be used to compare two binary files, as well as search log functions, allowing it to track changes in different iterations of files. Available as free and open-source software, the most recent version can be downloaded from the site, along with the previous versions. Version notes are provided for each.
http://www.dettus.net/dhex/
Free for non-commercial use, the proprietary hex editor for Windows is used to edit files, NTFS alternate streams and sparse data, OLE compound files, logical disks, and physical drives, allowing users to inspect, modify, insert, search, or replace binary, ASCII, or Unicode data. Written on Visual C++ and MFC, the editor is developed by Inv Softworks. An overview of the software is put forth, along with a list of features, tutorials, a FAQ, and other online help files.
http://www.flexhex.com/
This free version of Hex Editor Neo, developed by HHD Software, operates on the Microsoft Windows platform, and is designed to allow the user to view, edit, and analyze hexadecimal data and binary files any size in seconds. In development since 1999, the software is available in several language interfaces. Its features and system requirements are listed, along with target groups and usage scenarios, case studies, user testimonials, release details, and a free download.
https://freehexeditorneo.com/
Licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License, the free and open-source application is a binary file editor for the Windows operating system. The editable file size is limited only by available system memory. Files can be loaded partially and exported as hexdump to file or clipboard. Any combination of text and binary values can be searched, and files may be compared. Stable, beta, and alpha releases may be downloaded, and screenshots are displayed.
http://frhed.sourceforge.net/en/
Created by HHD Software, Hex Editor Neo is available for Microsoft Windows platforms in three non-commercial and three commercial editions, each of which is described here, including their features, screenshots, prices, and side-by-side comparisons, release dates, and purchases may be made online. Other resources include user testimonials, awards won by the software, and a wiki-based, online user manual. A fourteen-day trial version is also available.
https://www.hhdsoftware.com/hex-editor/
The Hex Workshop is a hex editor by BreakPoint Software, and a complete set of hexadecimal development tools for the Microsoft Windows platform, integrating binary editing and data interpretation, and visualization with the ease of a modern word processor. Screenshots are displayed, and a list of features are included, along with export samples, a history of its development, and user reviews. Pricing and ordering information is put forth, and online quotes may be requested.
http://www.hexworkshop.com/
Offering free and a commercial hex editor, the free version provides for editing files of unlimited size, advanced search dialog, string displays, and a data panel, while the commercial version adds a universal parsing engine, grammar editor, scripting engine, binary diff, histogram, checksum panel, and text encoding comparison. An overview of the program is put forth, including a list of features, illustrations showing how the program works, and a download link.
https://hexinator.com/
Distributed as proprietary freeware, HxD is a hex editor, a disk editor, and a memory editor designed for use with the Microsoft Windows platform, offering a graphical interface that includes search and replace, exporting, checksums and digests, insertion of byte patterns, file shredder, concatenation, statistics, and other features which are listed here. It may be freely downloaded from the site under the terms of the HxD License. Development notes are included.
https://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/
SHED (Simple Hex Editor) is designed to be an intuitive hex editor written for Unix/Linux platforms using the Ncurses programming library, with a Pico-style interface. It shows data in ASCII, HEX, DEC, OCT, and binary, allowing editing in each of these bases. Other features include searching and dumping. Hosted on SourceForge, it may be downloaded along with the source code, although some Linux distributions include the editor in their package database.
http://shed.sourceforge.net/
Developed by X-Ways Software Technology, WinHex is a universal hexadecimal editor designed for computer forensics, data recovery, low-level data processing, and IT security. Made for the Windows platform, WinHex is also a disk editor, able to read and directly edit hard drives, floppy disks, CD-ROM drives, DVDs, Flashcards, and other media. It can also read and directly edit RAM, partition tables, boot sectors, and other data structures. Free for download, a user manual is included.
http://www.winhex.com/winhex/
