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GHex

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What GHex is

GHex is a free hex editor for the GNOME desktop that opens binary files as raw data for editing. Its traditional view places hexadecimal values beside their ASCII representation. The editor supports copying and pasting binary data through custom clipboard formats, with plaintext fallback when that format is unavailable. Find and replace operations provide busy feedback and can be cancelled. GHex 4 added tabs and a dark mode that follows the GTK system preference by default, with an override in Preferences. The project changelog says its library supports files larger than 2 GB and can use a memory-mapped buffer backend where supported. GHex is part of GNOME Extra Apps rather than a core GNOME application, and it is licensed under GPLv2 or later. It includes libgtkhex, whose API documentation is generated in the project’s continuous-integration pipeline. Homebrew lists binary packages for Linux and macOS, while the project lists Linux as a supported platform. Bug reports and merge requests are handled through GitLab.

Who it suits

GHex suits people who need to inspect or edit raw binary data. It is relevant to Linux users and to macOS users obtaining the listed Homebrew package.

What it does well

  • Displays hexadecimal values with ASCII text
  • Supports cancellable find and replace
  • Handles files larger than 2 GB
  • Includes tabs and configurable dark mode
  • Licensed under GPLv2 or later

What to know first

  • Not a core GNOME application
  • The project lists Linux as its supported platform
  • No free trial is offered

Verdict

GHex offers focused binary editing with dual hexadecimal and ASCII views, clipboard support, and searchable data. Its free GPL license and large-file support make it suitable for raw-data work on supported systems.

Facts from GHex's own pages

Audience
The project describes GHex as a useful tool for working with raw data. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Clipboard
GHex supports custom clipboard data for copying and pasting binary data, with plaintext fallback when custom data is unavailable. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Data handling
The changelog says the library supports files larger than 2 GB and can use an mmap buffer backend where supported. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Display
Its traditional editor view shows hexadecimal values and their ASCII representation in two columns. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Editing interface
GHex 4 added a tabbed interface and dark mode, which follows the GTK system preference by default and can be overridden in Preferences. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Find and replace
The project changelog lists find and replace support, including busy feedback and cancellable operations. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Integration
GHex includes libgtkhex, whose API documentation is generated as part of the project’s CI pipeline. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
License
GHex is licensed under GPLv2 or later. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Platform availability
Homebrew lists GHex binary packages for macOS and Linux. · formulae.brew.sh, 4 Oct 2026
Project status
GHex is part of the GNOME Extra Apps family and is not a core GNOME application. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose
GHex is a hex editor for the GNOME desktop that loads raw data from binary files for editing. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security
The project pages reviewed do not state a security certification or compliance status. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support
The project welcomes bug reports and directs users to its GitLab Issues and Merge Request systems. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

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