Base64 encoding is a technique that transforms binary data (including images) into a text-based string comprised of 64 printable ASCII characters. This encoding scheme is crucial for embedding binary data like images into text-based formats, making them compatible across various systems and applications where binary data might be problematic.
Why Images Are Encoded in Base64- Embed binary image data directly in HTML, CSS, or JSON files
- Reduce HTTP requests by embedding images in web pages
- Transfer images through text-only channels
- Store image data in databases that don't support binary formats
- Maintain data integrity during transfers across systems
Base64 encoding uses all uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and two special symbols (+ and /). While this increases data size by about 33%, it ensures broad compatibility.