In what context is hexadecimal primarily used?

Hexadecimal is primarily used in web development for color coding due to its efficient representation of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color values. In this context, colors are often specified using hex codes, which are six-digit combinations that begin with a hash symbol (#) and represent the intensity of the red, green, and blue components of a color. Each component is represented by two hexadecimal digits ranging from 00 to FF, allowing for a wide spectrum of colors to be defined succinctly.

For example, the hex code #FF5733 denotes a particular shade of orange, where "FF" corresponds to the red component, "57" corresponds to green, and "33" represents blue. This provides a more compact way to convey color information compared to other formats such as decimal. Consequently, many web developers utilize hexadecimal codes in their style sheets, enhancing both the efficiency and clarity of their color definitions in webpages.

In other contexts, like graphic design and image editing, hexadecimal may also appear but not as primarily as in web development. The other options, while relevant to their domains, do not typically use hexadecimal in the same fundamental capacity as web development does for color coding purposes.