Base 16, also known as hexadecimal, is a numeral system that uses sixteen distinct symbols to represent values. These symbols include the digits 0-9 and the letters A-F, where A represents 10, B represents 11, C represents 12, D represents 13, E represents 14, and F represents 15. This system is commonly used in computing and digital electronics because it can represent large binary numbers more compactly. In programming, base 16 is often used to simplify the representation of binary data. For example, a byte, which consists of 8 bits, can be represented as two hexadecimal digits. This makes it easier for programmers to read and write values, especially when dealing with memory addresses or color codes in web design.