Exact
256
2 to the Power of 8
Answer
2 to the power of 8 equals 256.
Decimal
256
Formula
2⁸ = 256
Worked steps
1
Definition
2 raised to the power of 8 means 2 multiplied by itself 8 times. Result: 256.
2
Calculator method
Type 2, press ^ (or x^y), type 8, press =. Result: 256.
3
Why it matters in computing
8 bits is one byte — 256 possible values.
About this value
2^8 = 256. Powers of 2 are the bedrock of binary computing. 8 bits per byte means a byte can hold 256 different values — 0 through 255.
Frequently asked questions
What is 2 to the power of 8?
2 to the Power of 8 equals 256 as an exact value, or 256 as a decimal. The exact form is what you'd typically write in exam working; the decimal is what your calculator displays.
How do I calculate it on a calculator?
Type 2, press ^ or x^y, type the exponent, press =. The result for 2^8 is 256.
Why are powers of 2 important?
Binary computing — every bit doubles the address space, every byte holds 256 distinct values (2⁸). Memory sizes, file format limits, and the famous 'Year 2038 problem' all stem from powers of 2.
Negative powers of 2?
2^(-n) = 1/(2^n). So 2^(-3) = 1/8 = 0.125. Used in binary fractions, IEEE 754 floating-point exponent biases, and signal processing.