base64

Linux · Text · reference only

What it does

Encodes data as Base64 or decodes it. It turns binary content into text that can be copied or sent by email.

Syntax

base64 [opciones] [fichero]

Options and parameters

• -d

  Decodes instead of encoding.

• -w columnas

  Wraps the output at that width; 0 disables wrapping.

• -i

  When decoding, ignores characters that are not part of the Base64 alphabet.

• --help

  Shows help and exits.

• --version

  Shows the version and exits.

Usage examples

• echo -n hola | base64

  Encodes hola with no trailing newline and returns aG9sYQ==.

• echo aG9sYQ== | base64 -d

  Decodes the text and returns hola.

• base64 -w 0 imagen.png

  Encodes the file on a single line, with no wrapping.

• base64 -d datos.b64 > datos.bin

  Recovers a binary file from its Base64 version.

Notes and common mistakes

• Base64 is not encryption: anyone can decode it, so it does not protect sensitive information.
• With echo without -n the trailing newline is encoded too.

Related commands

• awk
• cat
• cut
• diff
• grep
• head