15 January 2026
The basics: What is endianness?
Endianness refers to how computers store multi-byte data — like integers — in memory. Take the hexadecimal number 0x12345678. It’s made up of four bytes, but the question is: which byte gets stored first?
- Big-endian systems are the posh, logical ones. They store the most significant byte first — so the bytes go in this order: 0x12, then 0x34, 0x56, and finally 0x78. This matches how humans naturally read numbers, from left to right.
- Little-endian systems, on the other hand, store the least significant byte first — so it’s 0x78, then 0x56, 0x34, and 0x12. This upside-down ordering was popularised by Intel processors and dominates in personal computers today.
Why do both big-endian and little-endian exist?
The story dates back to the 1980s, when different CPU designers chose different conventions — much like the infamous “egg war” from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, where two factions fought over which end of an egg to crack: the big end or the little end. The term “endianness” actually comes from this satirical tale — proof that some computing disputes are centuries old!
- Big-endian is commonly used in networking protocols, making data transmission more predictable.
- Little-endian is widespread in everyday computing, especially on Intel and compatible processors.
- Some processors, like ARM, can switch between both — like a chameleon adapting its colours.
Is one better than the other?
Not really. Endianness is just a convention — similar to whether we drive on the left or right side of the road. The trouble only comes when data is shared between systems using different conventions, leading to potential confusion (and program crashes).
So next time your code glitches because bytes are in the wrong order, blame it on the great egg war of computing history!
Want to dive deeper into how computers work behind the scenes?
Watch the full video to explore endianness and more fascinating computer science concepts.
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