Which of the following is a characteristic of hexadecimal format?

Hexadecimal format is characterized by its use of the digits 0-9 and the letters A-F, which represent the decimal values 10 to 15. This system is base-16, meaning it includes sixteen symbols to represent values, rather than the ten symbols used in the decimal system (0-9). As such, hexadecimal is widely used in computing and digital systems for a compact representation of binary-coded values, making it easier for humans to read and understand.

The other options do not accurately describe hexadecimal format. While it is true that colors and values can sometimes be expressed in hexadecimal requiring at least 8 bits, this is not a defining characteristic of the format itself, as hexadecimal can represent values from a single digit (like '1' or 'A') up to larger sums regardless of the bit requirement. The option stating that hexadecimal only uses digits 0-9 overlooks the inclusion of letters A-F. Lastly, the claim that hexadecimal is inherently less efficient than binary is misleading; while binary is more compact for storage, hexadecimal serves a specific purpose of readability and ease of use in programming and digital design, making it efficient for a different context. Therefore, the distinct feature that makes hex hexadecimal is its utilization of both numbers and letters,