how to convert an array of integers (1s and 0s) to their ascii equivalents in c#

Question

I have an array of integer 1s and 0s (possibly need to get converted to byte type?). I have used an online ASCII to binary generator to get the equivalent binary of this 6 digit letter sequence:

abcdef should equal 011000010110001001100011011001000110010101100110 in binary. So in c#, my array is [0,1,1,0,0,0,0...], built by:

int[] innerArr = new int[48]; 
for (int i = 0; i < 48); i++) {
    int innerIsWhite = color.val[0] > 200 ? 0 : 1;
    innerArr[i] = innerIsWhite;
}

I want to take this array, and convert it into abcdef (and be able to do the opposite).

How do I do this? Is there a better way to be storing these ones and zeros.

In terms of better ways to store sequences of bits, rather than a string, you could use a [BitArray](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.collections.bitarray?view=netframework-4.7.2). — Joe Sewell, Feb 20 '19 at 19:12
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6006425/binary-to-corresponding-ascii-string-conversion First Answer has the information you need — Darnold, Feb 20 '19 at 19:13
@mheavers I can verify you can create a `BitArray` with 48 elements - `new BitArray(48)`. — Joe Sewell, Feb 20 '19 at 19:37

Dmitry Bychenko · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-20T19:48:13.177

Try using Linq and Convert:

  source = "abcdef";

  // 011000010110001001100011011001000110010101100110 
  string encoded = string.Concat(source
    .Select(c => Convert.ToString(c, 2).PadLeft(8, '0')));

  // If we want an array
  byte[] encodedArray = encoded
    .Select(c => (byte) (c - '0'))
    .ToArray();

  // string from array
  string encodedFromArray = string.Concat(encodedArray);

  // abcdef
  string decoded = string.Concat(Enumerable
    .Range(0, encoded.Length / 8)
    .Select(i => (char) Convert.ToByte(encoded.Substring(i * 8, 8), 2)));

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 20 '19 at 19:42

If your input is a bit string, then you can use a method like below to convert that into character string

public static string GetStringFromAsciiBitString(string bitString) {
    var asciiiByteData = new byte[bitString.Length / 8];
    for (int i = 0, j = 0; i < asciiiByteData.Length; ++i, j+= 8)
        asciiiByteData[i] = Convert.ToByte(bitString.Substring(j, 8), 2);
    return Encoding.ASCII.GetString(asciiiByteData);
}

The above code simply uses the Convert.ToByte method asking it to do a base-2 string to byte conversion. Then using Encoding.ASCII.GetString, you get the string representation from the byte array

In my code, I presume your bit string is clean (multiple of 8 and with only 0s and 1s), in production grade code you will have to sanitize your input.

how to convert an array of integers (1s and 0s) to their ascii equivalents in c#

2 Answers2