ASCII·SP
32
SP
0x20 · 0100000

ASCII 32 — the SP character

Space

SP is 32 in decimal, 20 in hex and 0100000 in binary.

It draws nothing, yet it takes up a column.

Seven bits

ASCII is seven bits wide, which is why there are 128 of them. The eighth bit was long left for parity.

0100000

One bit — the sixth, worth 32 — separates the cases. Off gives a capital, on gives a lowercase letter.

Kind
Space
Decimal
32
Hexadecimal
0x20
Octal
040
Binary
0100000
HTML entity
 
URL encoding
%20
CSS escape
\20

The chart

Eight columns for the top three bits, sixteen rows for the bottom four. The capitals column sits right beside the lowercase one — that is the shape of the table.

Codes either side

How to read this

  • Add 32 to a capital and you get the lowercase letter — one bit flips.
  • Digits start at 48, so subtracting 48 from the code gives the number.
  • Holding Ctrl clears the top three bits — that is why Ctrl+I is a tab.
  • Everything under 32, plus 127, draws nothing. Those show their abbreviation instead.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the ASCII code for SP?

Decimal 32, hex 20, octal 040, binary 0100000.

Q. How do I write SP in HTML?

As  .

Q. How does it go in a URL?

It is encoded as %20.

Q. Does SP have a partner?

No case partner: it is not a letter but a symbol.