Have you heard about Encoding and decoding using base64 string in Python while learning Python? No? Don’t worry here in this post I am going to explain what base64 encoding is, what base64 decoding is, and how we can implement encoding and decoding using base64 strings in Python.
Base64 encoding allows us to convert binary or text data to ASCII characters, by encoding this data, we improve the chances of making it more secure and processed correctly by the systems.
Base64 is an inbuilt library in Python that offers functionality for encoding and decoding binary and text data into base64 strings. This enables the secure transmission of data via a protocol like HTTP that can handle ASCII characters
What is Base64 Encoding in Python?
Conversion of bytes into ASCII characters known as Base64 encoding. Base64 encoding names come directly from the maths definition of bases – we have 64 characters that represent the numbers.
- 26 lowercase letters
- 26 uppercase letters
- / and + for new lines
Each Base64 character represents 6 bits of information when the system converts base64 characters to binary.
Now let’s dive into how base64 encoding works.
How Does Base64 Encoding Work?
Here we will explain how base64 encoding works by converting text data, as it’s more standard than other binary formats. Use the below steps to encode a string using Base64:
Step 1: Take the ASCII value of each character in the string.
Step 2: Calculate the 8-bit binary equivalent of the ASCII values.
Step 3: Convert the 6-bit chunks into chunks of 6 bits by simply re-grouping the digits.
Step 4: Using the base64 encoding table, assign the respective base64 character for each decimal value.
Base64 Encoding Table
Encode String using Python
In Python, the base64 is used to encode and decode data. As mentioned above, String is converted into byte and then encoded using the base64 module using Python. Let’s take an example to show that the implementation of encoding strings is not a base64 string.
import base64
string = "Encoding and Decoding Using Base64 Strings in Python"
string_bytes = sample_string.encode("ascii")
base64_bytes = base64.b64encode(sample_string_bytes)
base64_string = base64_bytes.decode("ascii")
print(f"Encoded string: {base64_string}")
####OUTPUT######
RW5jb2RpbmcgYW5kIERlY29kaW5nIFVzaW5nIEJhc2U2NCBTdHJpbmdzIGluIFB5dGhvbg==Code Explanation: Firstly we import the base64 using import. The string variable stores our input string to be encoded. We convert that to a bytes-like object using the string’s encode method and store it into string_bytes. We then Base64 encode string_bytes and store the result in base64_bytes using the base64.b64encode method. We finally get the string representation of the Base64 conversion by decoding the base64_bytes as ASCII.
Why Base64 Encoding?
On the desktops, all different types of data are transmitted in 0s and 1s, However, some channels and applications cannot understand all the data bits it receive. Because the meaning of a sequence of 0s and 1s depends on the data type. For example, 1011001 must be processed differently if it represents a letter or an image.
To work around this limitation, you can encode your data to text, increasing the chances of it being transmitted and processed correctly. Base64 is a popular Python method to get binary data into ASCII characters, which is understood by most networks and applications.
Decoding String in Python
Decoding Base64 string is just opposite to that of encoding string in Python. First, we convert the base64 string into unencoded data bytes followed by conversion into a bytes-like object into a string. Let’s take an example to demonstrate decoding string in Python.
import base64
base64_string="RW5jb2RpbmcgYW5kIERlY29kaW5nIFVzaW5nIEJhc2U2NCBTdHJpbmdzIGluIFB5dGhvbg=="
base64_bytes = base64_string.encode("ascii")
string_bytes = base64.b64decode(base64_bytes)
string = sample_string_bytes.decode("ascii")
print(f"Decoded string: {sample_string}")
##Output: Encoding and Decoding Using Base64 Strings in PythonCode Explanation: Once again, we need the base64 module imported. We have to encode our message into a bytes-like object with encode(‘ASCII’). We continue by calling the base64.b64decode method to decode the base64_bytes into our string_bytes variable. Finally, we decode string_bytes into a string object string, so it becomes human-readable.
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FAQ
Here we mentioned some of the frequently asked questions that will help to understand the base concept of encoding and decoding using base64 strings in Python:
What is Base64 Encoding and Decoding in Python?
Base64 is a method for encoding binary data into ASCII characters which are more easily stored and manipulated in text formats. Base64 encoding is used for data transport, and web applications to transfer binary data safely over the channels. Python Module Base64 provides functionalities for encoding and decoding.
How to Encode a string to base64 in Python?
You first need to convert the string into bytes to encode a string to base 64 in Python, then use the base64 method to encode these bytes.
import base64
# Original string
data = "Bit Level Code"
# Encode the string to bytes, then encode to Base64
encoded_bytes = base64.b64encode(data.encode('utf-8'))
encoded_str = encoded_bytes.decode('utf-8')
print(encoded_str) # Output: SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==What is the difference Between Base64 and UTF-8?
UTF-8: A character encoding that encodes characters into a sequence of bytes. It is used for text data and can represent any character in the Unicode standard. It is a dominant encoding method for the web and many computing systems.
Base64 Encoding: This Base64 method is used to encode binary data into ASCII characters. This is not character-based encoding but it is a way to encode non-text content into textual data. It is mostly used for URL encoding and Email encoding.
What is the Difference between an Encoder and a Decoder in Python?
Encoder: Converting the data from complex format to the text(Unicode Strings) into simpler, standardized formats such as bytes or Base64. For example, encoding a string into bytes using Base64 encoded string, and is called encoding and decoding using base64 strings in Python.
Decoder: Opposite to the encoder, converting data from formats such as bytes or Base64 back into complex formats like human-readable text.
Let’s take an example to understand Encoder and Decoder:
import base64
# Encode
string = "Encode this text"
encoded_bytes = base64.b64encode(string.encode('utf-8'))
print("Encoded:", encoded_bytes)
# Decode
decoded_bytes = base64.b64decode(encoded_bytes)
decoded_string = decoded_bytes.decode('utf-8')
print("Decoded:", decoded_string)so this is all about encoding and decoding using base64 strings in Python if you have any doubts or queries regarding this blog post feel free to reach out using the comment section.
Thank You! Happy Coding!
