← 255 257 → 256
← 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 → List of numbers — Integers ← 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 →
Cardinal	two hundred [and] fifty-six
Ordinal	256th (two hundred [and] fifty-sixth)
Factorization	256 = 28
Roman numeral	CCLVI
Binary	1000000002
Octal	4008
Duodecimal	19412
Hexadecimal	10016

256 (two hundred [and] fifty-six, CCLVI) is the natural number following 255 and preceding 257.

In mathematics

256 is a composite number, with the factorization 256 = 2⁸, which makes it a power of two.

It is also equal to:

• 16², the square of 16
• 4⁴
• 4↑↑2 using Knuth's up-arrow notation

Two hundred fifty-six is also:

• The number of characters in the new Braille 8-dot system.
• The number of different values in one byte, which makes it the typical number of different values in each color channel of a digital color image (see color space encoding).
• The number of columns in a standard Microsoft Excel worksheet.
• The year AD 256 and 256 BC.
• The Split-Screen Level in Pacman
• The number of counties in Texas.
• The number of characters in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita.
• An area code in Alabama.
• The number of regular season football games in the NFL.
• The frequency of Middle C in hertz under philosophical pitch.

• The number of the Amarna letter (EA256), which, according to David Rohl, was written by Ishbosheth and contains mentions of King David, Jesse, and Joab.