# module Base64

The `Base64` module provides for the encoding (`encode64`, `strict_encode64`, `urlsafe_encode64`) and decoding (`decode64`, `strict_decode64`, `urlsafe_decode64`) of binary data using a `Base64` representation.

## Example¶ ↑

A simple encoding and decoding.

    require "base64"

    enc   = Base64.encode64('Send reinforcements')
                        # -> "U2VuZCByZWluZm9yY2VtZW50cw==\n"
    plain = Base64.decode64(enc)
                        # -> "Send reinforcements"

The purpose of using base64 to encode data is that it translates any binary data into purely printable characters.

### Public Instance Methods

decode64(str) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-decoded version of `str`. This method complies with RFC 2045. Characters outside the base alphabet are ignored.

    require 'base64'
    str = 'VGhpcyBpcyBsaW5lIG9uZQpUaGlzIG' +
          'lzIGxpbmUgdHdvClRoaXMgaXMgbGlu' +
          'ZSB0aHJlZQpBbmQgc28gb24uLi4K'
    puts Base64.decode64(str)

Generates:

    This is line one
    This is line two
    This is line three
    And so on...

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 58
    def decode64(str)
      str.unpack1("m")
    end

encode64(bin) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-encoded version of `bin`. This method complies with RFC 2045. Line feeds are added to every 60 encoded characters.

    require 'base64'
    Base64.encode64("Now is the time for all good coders\nto learn Ruby")

Generates:

    Tm93IGlzIHRoZSB0aW1lIGZvciBhbGwgZ29vZCBjb2RlcnMKdG8gbGVhcm4g
    UnVieQ==

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 38
    def encode64(bin)
      [bin].pack("m")
    end

strict_decode64(str) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-decoded version of `str`. This method complies with RFC 4648. `ArgumentError` is raised if `str` is incorrectly padded or contains non-alphabet characters. Note that CR or LF are also rejected.

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 73
    def strict_decode64(str)
      str.unpack1("m0")
    end

strict_encode64(bin) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-encoded version of `bin`. This method complies with RFC 4648. No line feeds are added.

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 65
    def strict_encode64(bin)
      [bin].pack("m0")
    end

urlsafe_decode64(str) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-decoded version of `str`. This method complies with “Base 64 `Encoding` with URL and Filename Safe Alphabet'' in RFC 4648. The alphabet uses '-' instead of '+' and '_' instead of '/'.

The padding character is optional. This method accepts both correctly-padded and unpadded input. Note that it still rejects incorrectly-padded input.

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 98
    def urlsafe_decode64(str)
      # NOTE: RFC 4648 does say nothing about unpadded input, but says that
      # "the excess pad characters MAY also be ignored", so it is inferred that
      # unpadded input is also acceptable.
      str = str.tr("-_", "+/")
      if !str.end_with?("=") && str.length % 4 != 0
        str = str.ljust((str.length + 3) & ~3, "=")
      end
      strict_decode64(str)
    end

urlsafe_encode64(bin, padding: true) click to toggle source

Returns the Base64-encoded version of `bin`. This method complies with “Base 64 `Encoding` with URL and Filename Safe Alphabet'' in RFC 4648. The alphabet uses '-' instead of '+' and '_' instead of '/'. Note that the result can still contain '='. You can remove the padding by setting `padding` as false.

    # File lib/base64.rb, line 83
    def urlsafe_encode64(bin, padding: true)
      str = strict_encode64(bin)
      str.tr!("+/", "-_")
      str.delete!("=") unless padding
      str
    end