Base64 strings concepts in different programming language

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:

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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.