# HEX

Returns the hexadecimal representation of numeric, string, or binary data.

## Syntax

```sql
HEX (expression)

```

## Arguments

* `expression`: any valid expression. This can be a column name, literal, or the return value of another function.

## Return Type

Upper-case hexadecimal string.

## Remarks

* **Numeric Arguments**: When the argument to `HEX` is numeric (e.g. integer, real, or decimal), the `HEX` function operates on the binary representation of the value as follows.

  * The numeric value is treated as an unsigned `BIGINT` and the result is the `HEX` of the unsigned `BIGINT` value.
  * `UNHEX` is not the inverse of `HEX` for numeric values.

    * For example, `UNHEX(HEX(1234)) != 1234`.
* **String, BLOB, and Vector Arguments**: When the argument to `HEX` is a string, BLOB, or vector, each byte of the string, BLOB, or vector is converted to two hexadecimal digits.

  * For example, `HEX('[1,2,3]':>VECTOR(3,F32)) = 0000803F0000004000004040`.

    * `0000803F` is the hexadecimal representation of the floating point representation of 1 (the first element in the vector).
  * `HEX` is the inverse of `UNHEX` for strings, BLOBs, and vectors.

    * For example, `UNHEX(HEX('1234')) = '1234'`.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT HEX(1234);

```

```output

+-----------+
| HEX(1234) |
+-----------+
| 4D2       |
+-----------+

```

```sql
SELECT HEX('1234');

```

```output

+-------------+
| HEX('1234') |
+-------------+
| 31323334    |
+-------------+
```

```sql
SELECT HEX('ohai');

```

```output

+-------------+
| HEX('ohai') |
+-------------+
| 6F686169    |
+-------------+
```

```sql
SELECT HEX('[1,2,3]':>VECTOR(3,F32));

```

```output

+-------------------------------+
| HEX('[1,2,3]':>VECTOR(3,F32)) |
+-------------------------------+
| 0000803F0000004000004040      |
+-------------------------------+

```

## Related Topics

* [UNHEX](https://docs.singlestore.com/cloud/reference/sql-reference/string-functions/unhex.md)

***

Modified at: November 21, 2025

Source: [/cloud/reference/sql-reference/string-functions/hex/](https://docs.singlestore.com/cloud/reference/sql-reference/string-functions/hex/)

(An index of the documentation is available at /llms.txt)