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GNU hexedit

rigaux.org

Free plan Linux
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Spec score 7.6 #13 of 32 in Hex Editors

What it is

GNU hexedit is a free Linux terminal program for viewing and editing file contents as hexadecimal values or ASCII text. It can read a device piece at a time, search forward or backward for strings in either representation, and save edits. Selection commands allow marking, copying, pasting, saving a copied region to another file, and filling a selected area with a string. The --sector option displays whole sectors and makes scrolling advance sector by sector. Keyboard commands control the terminal interface; --color works only when supported by the operating system. Changes remain in memory until saved, so large fill operations may trigger a warning. Read-only files cannot be changed and are reported as non-writable. The author describes hexedit as open source under the GNU General Public License. The maker page links to source archive 1.6, while Git builds use ./autogen.sh && ./configure && make. It supports disk editing but has no binary comparison, templates, scripting, or plugins.

Spec sheet

Purpose
GNU hexedit displays and edits files in hexadecimal and ASCII.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Intended users
The documented functions suit users who need to inspect or edit file bytes, search binary data, or work with device sectors.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Support
The author asks users to report problems and welcomes remarks of any kind.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
License
The author states that hexedit is open source and may be redistributed under the GNU General Public License.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Device access
It can read a device a piece at a time.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Editing
Users can modify files in either ASCII or hexadecimal mode and save changes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Editing limit
Large fill operations may trigger a warning because modifications are kept in memory until saved.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Read-only files
A read-only file cannot be edited, and the program reports that it is non-writable.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Search
It searches forward or backward for strings in ASCII or hexadecimal.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Sector mode
The --sector option formats the display in whole sectors and changes scrolling to move sector by sector.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Selection tools
Users can mark, copy, paste, save a copied region to a file, and fill a selected region with a string.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org
Terminal interface
The program uses a terminal display with keyboard commands, and its --color option works only when the operating system supports it.Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org

Plans and prices

GNU hexedit Free Open source · GNU GPL Read 7 Oct 2026 · rigaux.org

Every GNU hexedit plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Hexadecimal and ASCII editing
  • Forward and backward string search
  • Sector-by-sector display and scrolling
  • Copy, paste, fill, and export regions
  • Free GNU GPL software

Limits

  • Linux terminal interface only
  • Edits stay in memory until saved
  • Read-only files cannot be edited
  • No scripting or plugin support

Who it suits

It suits Linux users who inspect or edit bytes, search binary data, or work with device sectors. The terminal interface is intended for keyboard-driven file and disk editing.

Verdict

GNU hexedit provides focused terminal tools for byte inspection, editing, searching, and sector work. Its simple open-source design fits users who need direct file or device editing without comparison or extension features.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to GNU hexeditAll alternatives →