# HP-16C

> Programmable calculator produced by Hewlett-Packard, with dedicated functionality for computer programmers

**Wikidata**: [Q16000601](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16000601)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP-16C)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hp-16c

## Summary
The HP-16C is a programmable calculator produced by Hewlett-Packard specifically for computer programmers. It was manufactured from 1982 to 1989 and featured dedicated functionality to assist with calculations in different number systems.

## Key Facts
- The HP-16C was manufactured by Hewlett-Packard, an American information technology company
- It was Hewlett-Packard's first and only calculator specifically designed for computer programmers
- The calculator was produced from 1982 to 1989
- The HP-16C is classified as a calculator
- It has dedicated functionality for computer programmers
- The calculator can display numbers in hexadecimal format
- It has 3 sitelinks across Wikipedia language editions (Commons, English, and Portuguese)
- The calculator has a Freebase ID of /m/0wbht6m

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of the HP-16C calculator?
A: The HP-16C was designed specifically for computer programmers to assist with calculations in different number systems, providing dedicated functionality that general calculators lacked.

### Q: When was the HP-16C manufactured?
A: The HP-16C was produced by Hewlett-Packard from 1982 to 1989, making it the company's first and only calculator specifically for programmers during that period.

### Q: What unique features did the HP-16C offer programmers?
A: The HP-16C had specialized programming functionality and could display numbers in hexadecimal format, which was essential for programmers working with low-level code and memory addresses.

## Why It Matters
The HP-16C holds significance in the history of computing as one of the first calculators designed specifically for programming needs. It filled an important gap for programmers who required specialized tools for working with different number systems, particularly hexadecimal and binary that are fundamental to programming. As a dedicated programmer's calculator, it represented HP's recognition of the growing computing industry and the specialized tools programmers needed during the early personal computing era from 1982 to 1989.

## Notable For
- Being Hewlett-Packard's first and only calculator specifically designed for computer programmers
- Its dedicated functionality for number system calculations crucial to programming
- The ability to display numbers in hexadecimal format (as shown by the "h" in the calculator's display)
- Its production period from 1982 to 1989 during the early days of personal computing
- Its specialized programming features that general-purpose calculators lacked

## Body
### Overview
The HP-16C is a programmable calculator developed by Hewlett-Packard with features specifically designed for computer programmers. It was manufactured from 1982 to 1989, representing a specialized tool for programming needs during the early personal computing era.

### Manufacturer and Production
The HP-16C was produced by Hewlett-Packard, an American information technology company founded in 1939. The calculator was part of HP's product line dedicated to computing tools and calculators for professionals. Production lasted for approximately seven years, from 1982 to 1989, after which it was discontinued.

### Features and Functionality
The HP-16C includes specialized programming functionality that distinguishes it from general-purpose calculators. It can display numbers in hexadecimal format, which is essential for programmers working with memory addresses and low-level code. The calculator was designed to handle calculations in different number systems, addressing a specific need in the programming community.

### Classification and Recognition
The HP-16C is classified as a calculator and has been recognized with its own entry in Freebase with the ID /m/0wbht6m. It has 3 sitelinks across different Wikipedia language editions, including Commons, English, and Portuguese, indicating its historical significance in the field of computing tools.