Base64
Definition
A binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into a string of ASCII characters, commonly used for embedding data in web pages and emails.
Base64 is an encoding method that represents binary data using 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It is not encryption; it is simply a way to safely transmit binary data through systems designed to handle text.
Common uses of Base64 include embedding images directly in HTML or CSS (data URIs), encoding email attachments (MIME), transmitting binary data in JSON or XML, and encoding authentication credentials in HTTP headers.
Base64 encoding increases the data size by approximately 33%, since every 3 bytes of input become 4 bytes of output. While this overhead is acceptable for small files, it makes Base64 impractical for large binary data. URL-safe Base64 variants replace + and / with - and _ to avoid encoding issues in URLs.
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Related Terms
Encryption
techThe process of converting readable data (plaintext) into an unreadable format (ciphertext) using an algorithm and key, protecting it from unauthorized access.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
techA web address that specifies the location of a resource on the internet, including the protocol, domain name, path, and optional parameters.
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
techThe foundational protocol for data communication on the web, defining how messages are formatted and transmitted between clients and servers.
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
techThe standard markup language for creating web pages, defining the structure and content of a page using elements represented by tags.
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