Is Base64 an encryption or encoding algorithm?

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I have to use an encryption algorithm using Base64 but when I researched online I find forums state it is an encoding algorithm. This has me confused. :(

Is Base64 an encryption or encoding algorithm? How do we differentiate between the two except for the fact that one is publicly decipherable while the other needs a key for that?

asked 2 mins ago

Ahmed

1,087

1 Answer

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It's an encoding algorithm to allow people to move data in an ASCII friendly environment (i.e. no control characters or anything non-printable). It should give you good portability with XML and JSON etc.

Anybody can Base64 decode your content, so it's not encryption. At least not useful as encryption.

answered 23 secs ago

Jeff Watkins

4,955

Is Base64 an encryption or encoding algorithm?