base64: Data Encoding/Decoding

Overview

base64 is an encoding method that represents data in base-64. This method converts every byte into a printable ASCII character, allowing binary data to be processed without corruption in text-based systems. It primarily processes data through standard input/output and also supports file input/output.

Key Features

Encode binary data into ASCII text
Decode encoded text back into binary data
Supports standard input/output and file processing
Enables data transmission without corruption

Key Options

The main options for the base64 command control the encoding/decoding method, output format, and more.

Basic Operations

Other Options

Generated command:

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Description:

`base64` Executes the command.

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Usage Examples

Various usage examples of the base64 command.

Encoding a String

echo -n 'Hello, World!' | base64

Encodes a string to base64 using the echo command.

Decoding an Encoded String

echo -n 'SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==' | base64 -d

Decodes a previously encoded string using the base64 -d option.

Encoding a File

echo 'This is a test file.' > test.txt
base64 test.txt > test.txt.base64

Encodes the content of a file to base64 and saves it to a new file. (Example: Create test.txt and then run)

Decoding an Encoded File

base64 -d test.txt.base64 > test_decoded.txt

Decodes an encoded file to restore the original file.

Encoding Without Line Breaks

echo -n 'Long string without line breaks for encoding' | base64 -w 0

Uses the -w 0 option to prevent line breaks in the output.

Encoding/Decoding with Pipes

cat /etc/hostname | base64 | base64 -d

Chains encoding and decoding operations using pipes for command output.

Tips & Precautions

Useful tips and precautions when using base64.

Key Tips

base64 is not an encryption tool. It converts data into a transmittable format, rather than hiding it. For sensitive data, use encryption tools.
When encoding binary files to base64, the output file size increases by approximately 33% compared to the original file. This is because 3 bytes of binary data are represented by 4 ASCII characters.
If you need to process a base64 string containing invalid characters during decoding, you can use the `--ignore-garbage` option to ignore errors and decode only the valid parts. However, this may lead to data loss, so use with caution.
When using base64 encoded data in a web environment, URL-safe base64 encoding might be necessary. The `base64` command follows standard base64, so if URL-safe encoding is required, an additional conversion step will be needed.