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Muhammad Atif Iqbal
Muhammad Atif Iqbal

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Base64 strings concepts in different programming language

#base64 #programming #encoding #decoding

Base64 strings are not exclusive to Python—they are widely used across many programming languages and platforms. Base64 encoding is a universal standard defined in RFC 4648, and virtually every major programming language provides built-in or library support for working with Base64 strings.

Languages and Usage

Here’s how Base64 is supported and used in various popular languages:

1. Python

  • Module: base64
  • Use Cases: Encoding and decoding binary data, especially for APIs, file uploads, and embedding resources in HTML/JSON. 
import base64 # Encode encoded = base64.b64encode(b"Hello, Python!") print(encoded) # Output: b'SGVsbG8sIFB5dGhvbiE='  # Decode decoded = base64.b64decode(encoded) print(decoded) # Output: b'Hello, Python!'
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2. JavaScript

  • Methods: btoa (binary to ASCII), atob (ASCII to binary)
  • Use Cases: Encoding data for web communication, embedding images or files in web pages. 
// Encode let data = "Hello, JavaScript!"; let encoded = btoa(data); console.log(encoded); // Output: "SGVsbG8sIEphdmFTY3JpcHQh" // Decode let decoded = atob(encoded); console.log(decoded); // Output: "Hello, JavaScript!"
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3. Java

  • Library: java.util.Base64
  • Use Cases: Secure file handling, API integration, and token management. 
import java.util.Base64; public class Main { public static void main(String[] args) { // Encode String original = "Hello, Java!"; String encoded = Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(original.getBytes()); System.out.println(encoded); // Output: "SGVsbG8sIEphdmEh" // Decode byte[] decodedBytes = Base64.getDecoder().decode(encoded); String decoded = new String(decodedBytes); System.out.println(decoded); // Output: "Hello, Java!" } }
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4. C#

  • Namespace: System.Convert
  • Use Cases: File handling, secure token exchange, and embedding data in web APIs. 
using System; class Program { static void Main() { // Encode string data = "Hello, C#!"; string encoded = Convert.ToBase64String(System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(data)); Console.WriteLine(encoded); // Output: "SGVsbG8sIEMjIQ==" // Decode string decoded = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(Convert.FromBase64String(encoded)); Console.WriteLine(decoded); // Output: "Hello, C#!" } }
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5. PHP

  • Functions: base64_encode and base64_decode
  • Use Cases: Handling image uploads, encoding user credentials (like in Basic Authentication). 
<?php // Encode $data = "Hello, PHP!"; $encoded = base64_encode($data); echo $encoded; // Output: "SGVsbG8sIFBIUCE=" // Decode $decoded = base64_decode($encoded); echo $decoded; // Output: "Hello, PHP!" ?>
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6. Ruby

  • Library: Base64 (part of Ruby’s standard library)
  • Use Cases: Encoding for APIs, handling files, embedding binary data in text. 
require 'base64' # Encode data = "Hello, Ruby!" encoded = Base64.encode64(data) puts encoded # Output: "SGVsbG8sIFJ1Ynkh\n" # Decode decoded = Base64.decode64(encoded) puts decoded # Output: "Hello, Ruby!"
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7. Go

  • Package: encoding/base64
  • Use Cases: Token management, secure file transmission, and embedding data in APIs. 
package main import ( "encoding/base64" "fmt" ) func main() { // Encode data := "Hello, Go!" encoded := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(data)) fmt.Println(encoded) // Output: "SGVsbG8sIEdvIQ==" // Decode decoded, _ := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(encoded) fmt.Println(string(decoded)) // Output: "Hello, Go!" }
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Common Applications Across Languages

  1. Web APIs:
    • Encoding binary files (e.g., images, audio) for transmission over REST or GraphQL APIs.
    • Common in authentication tokens (e.g., JSON Web Tokens use Base64).
  2. Embedded Data:
    • Embedding resources in HTML (like inline images in <img> tags).
  3. Email Attachments:
    • Base64 is used in MIME email attachments to encode binary files.
  4. File Handling:
    • Converting files to Base64 strings for storage in text-based databases.

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