How was hexadecimal invented?

Hexadecimal, or base-16, was developed as a more compact way to represent binary numbers, which are used in digital computing. It aligns well with binary since each hexadecimal digit corresponds to four binary bits, making it easier for programmers and engineers to read and write large binary values. The system gained popularity in the 1960s with the rise of computer programming and digital electronics, where it was used for memory addresses and color codes in graphics. Its efficiency and simplicity in representing data contributed to its widespread adoption in computing.