What is the IHEX File Format?
IHEX (Intel Hex) is a file format used for storing and transferring binary data, such as firmware or program code. It is a widely used format in the electronics and computer industry, as it is easy to parse and read.
How Does IHEX Work?
IHEX files consist of a series of lines, each of which represents a block of data. Each line begins with a colon (“:”) and is followed by the data, a checksum, and a newline character. The data is typically represented in hexadecimal format, which is a base-16 numbering system.
The first two characters of each line represent the number of bytes in the data block, followed by a four-digit address indicating the location of the data in memory. The next two characters represent the record type, which can be one of several values indicating the purpose of the data.
Uses of IHEX
IHEX files are commonly used to store and transfer firmware or program code for microcontrollers and other electronic devices. They are also used to store data for use in simulation or testing.
IHEX files can be easily read and parsed by software programs, making them a convenient and widely supported format for transferring data.
Pros and Cons of IHEX
One of the main advantages of IHEX is its simplicity and ease of use. It is a widely supported and well-documented file format that is easy to parse and read.
However, IHEX files are not as efficient as some other file formats when it comes to storing data. They can be larger in size than other formats, such as binary or ELF (Executable and Linkable Format).