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 in a more compact form. 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 code, especially when dealing with memory addresses or color codes in web design.