Differences Between Little Endian, Big Endian, Middle Endian, and Bi-endian

This article was originally published on bmf-tech.com . Overview This article summarizes the differences between Little Endian and Big Endian. What is Endian? The method of arranging multiple bytes is called Endian or byte order. It refers to how data is arranged when loaded into memory. Endian is determined by the CPU, protocol, and OS. Problems related to Endian can easily arise when exchanging data between different systems or networks. e.g. Endian conversion is necessary when analyzing binaries. Big Endian A method where data is arranged from the lower address in the order of higher bytes to lower bytes. e.g. Hexadecimal 00 01 02 03 → 00 01 02 03 Little Endian A method where data is arranged from the higher address in the order of higher bytes to lower bytes. e.g. Hexadecimal 00 01 02 03 → 03 02 01 00 Middle Endian A more irregular method than the above two. Bi-endian A method that switches between Big Endian and Little Endian. References wikipedia.oorg - Endian ponsuke-tarou.haten