Question 1

What is Base64 encoding?

Accepted Answer

Base64 encoding is a method of converting binary data into a text format using 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It increases data size by approximately 33% but ensures safe transmission through text-only channels like email, URLs, and JSON.

Question 2

When should I use Base64 encoding?

Accepted Answer

Use Base64 encoding when you need to embed binary data (images, files) in text-based formats like HTML, CSS, or JSON. It is also used in email attachments (MIME), data URIs, HTTP Basic Authentication, and storing binary data in databases that only support text.

Question 3

What is the difference between Base64 and URL encoding?

Accepted Answer

Base64 converts binary data to ASCII text using a 64-character alphabet, increasing size by ~33%. URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces unsafe URL characters with %XX hex values. Base64 is for binary-to-text conversion; URL encoding is for making strings safe in URLs. They serve different purposes and can be used together.

Index	Characters
0-25	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
26-51	a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
52-61	0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
62	+
63	/
Pad	=

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