- Home
- Hex Editors
- GNU hexedit
GNU hexedit
What it is
GNU hexedit is a free Linux terminal program for inspecting and editing file contents as hexadecimal values or ASCII text. It can read devices a piece at a time, search forward or backward for strings in either format, and save changes made in either editing mode. Keyboard commands let users mark, copy, and paste regions, save a copied region to a file, or fill a selected area with a string. The --sector option displays whole sectors and makes scrolling advance sector by sector.
The program’s --color option works only when the operating system supports it. Changes remain in memory until saved, and large fill operations can trigger a warning. Read-only files cannot be edited; the program reports when a file is non-writable. GNU hexedit is open source and redistributable under the GNU General Public License. The maker page links to the 1.6 source archive, and the repository README gives build steps for Git checkouts. The author invites users to report problems and send remarks.
For and against
For
- Edits contents in hexadecimal or ASCII
- Searches strings in either representation
- Can read devices piece at a time
- Sector display supports sector-by-sector scrolling
- Free and redistributable under the GNU GPL
Against
- Available for Linux only
- Read-only files cannot be edited
- Changes stay in memory until saved
- Color option depends on operating-system support
The verdict
GNU hexedit provides focused byte inspection and editing from a Linux terminal, including search and sector-oriented display. Users should save changes and note that read-only files cannot be modified.
Who it suits
GNU hexedit may suit Linux users who need to inspect or edit file bytes, search binary data, or examine device sectors. Its terminal interface and keyboard commands suit users comfortable with that style of tool.
Plans and prices
GNU hexedit
Open source · GNU GPL
Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
On the record
- Device access
- It can read a device a piece at a time.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Download and build
- The maker page links to the 1.6 source archive, and the repository README gives ./autogen.sh && ./configure && make as the build steps from Git.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Users can modify files in either ASCII or hexadecimal mode and save changes.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Editing limit
- Large fill operations may trigger a warning because modifications are kept in memory until saved.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documented functions suit users who need to inspect or edit file bytes, search binary data, or work with device sectors.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The author states that hexedit is open source and may be redistributed under the GNU General Public License.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GNU hexedit displays and edits files in hexadecimal and ASCII.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Read-only files
- A read-only file cannot be edited, and the program reports that it is non-writable.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Search
- It searches forward or backward for strings in ASCII or hexadecimal.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Sector mode
- The --sector option formats the display in whole sectors and changes scrolling to move sector by sector.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Selection tools
- Users can mark, copy, paste, save a copied region to a file, and fill a selected region with a string.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The author asks users to report problems and welcomes remarks of any kind.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Terminal interface
- The program uses a terminal display with keyboard commands, and its --color option works only when the operating system supports it.rigaux.org · read 7 Oct 2026
