What is Base64 Encoding Used For

Understanding Base64 Encoding

Base64 encoding is a technique used for converting binary data into ASCII text. This is especially useful when it comes to transmitting data over systems that can only handle text-based data, such as email or certain web protocols.

Common Use Cases of Base64 Encoding

1. Data Transmission: One of the primary purposes of Base64 encoding is to ensure safe sending and receiving of binary data over text-based systems, such as email attachments, image data in HTML or XML documents.

2. Data Storage: Base64 encoding can be employed to generate a string that can be easily stored and retrieved in databases, which might not support binary data types.

3. Data Obfuscation: Although not recommended for secure data encryption, Base64 encoding can obfuscate data to make it less readable at first glance.

Remember that Base64 encoding is not a secure encryption method, and should not be used as a substitution for more robust data security techniques.