What is Base64 and Why is it Needed?
Base64 is a data encoding algorithm that transforms binary files, images, and text into a text format consisting of Latin letters, digits, and special characters (+, /, =). It is widely used for transmitting data through text-based channels such as URLs, emails, JSON, HTML, and more.
Why Use Base64?
- Secure data transmission — encodes files and images into text to prevent damage during transmission.
- Compatibility with text formats — convenient for embedding binary data into JSON, XML, and HTML.
- Protection of special characters — prevents data corruption in systems that do not support binary formats.
Base64 is not an encryption method but it greatly simplifies working with binary files in a text-based environment. It is used to encode images in Data URLs, store files in JWT tokens, and transfer data through APIs and emails.
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