How to Use Base64 in Python: Encoding, Decoding, and Practical Examples

1. What is Base64? Basic Usage in Python

import base64

# Data to encode
data = "こんにちは"
encoded_data = base64.b64encode(data.encode('utf-8'))
print(encoded_data)  # b'44GT44KT44Gr44Gh44Gv'

# Decode back to original data
decoded_data = base64.b64decode(encoded_data).decode('utf-8')
print(decoded_data)  # こんにちは

• The b64encode() function encodes a byte sequence into Base64 format. encode('utf-8') is used to convert a string into bytes.
• The b64decode() function decodes the encoded data and restores it to the original string.

2. How to Perform Base64 Encoding in Python

import base64

# Encode a string
text = "Python Base64"
encoded_text = base64.b64encode(text.encode('utf-8'))
print(encoded_text)  # b'UHl0aG9uIEJhc2U2NA=='

3. How Base64 Decoding Works with Examples

import base64

# Base64 encoded data
encoded_data = b'UHl0aG9uIGlzIGdyZWF0'
# Decode back to original string
decoded_data = base64.b64decode(encoded_data).decode('utf-8')
print(decoded_data)  # Python is great

4. How to Encode and Decode Image Files with Base64 in Python

import base64

# Read an image file and encode in Base64
with open('image.png', 'rb') as img_file:
    encoded_image = base64.b64encode(img_file.read())
    print(encoded_image)

import base64

# Encoded image data
encoded_image = b'...'  # Encoded data

# Decode and save as an image file
with open('decoded_image.png', 'wb') as img_file:
    img_file.write(base64.b64decode(encoded_image))

5. Practical Applications of Base64

from flask import Flask, jsonify
import base64

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/image')
def get_image():
    with open('image.png', 'rb') as image_file:
        encoded_image = base64.b64encode(image_file.read()).decode('utf-8')
    return jsonify({'image': encoded_image})

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(debug=True)

6. Considerations and Limitations of Base64 Encoding

Summary