Base64 Encoder and Decoder in Ruby — Code Examples
Base64 encoding converts binary or text data into a 64-character ASCII alphabet so it can be safely transmitted over text-only channels. Here is how to encode and decode Base64 in each language using only the standard library.
Ruby's standard library includes the base64 module. Use strict_encode64 and strict_decode64 for standard Base64 without line-break insertion.
require 'base64'
# Encode
encoded = Base64.strict_encode64("Hello, world!")
puts encoded # SGVsbG8sIHdvcmxkIQ==
# Decode
decoded = Base64.strict_decode64("SGVsbG8sIHdvcmxkIQ==")
puts decoded # Hello, world!
# URL-safe Base64 (replaces + with - and / with _)
url_safe = Base64.urlsafe_encode64("Hello, world!")
puts url_safe
decoded_url = Base64.urlsafe_decode64(url_safe)
puts decoded_url # Hello, world!
# Without padding (JWT contexts)
no_pad = Base64.urlsafe_encode64("Hello, world!", padding: false)
puts no_pad- Use strict_encode64 instead of encode64 — encode64 inserts newlines every 60 characters.
- urlsafe_encode64 replaces + with - and / with _ to keep output safe in URLs and HTTP headers.
- Pass padding: false to urlsafe_encode64 to omit = characters, as required by the JWT spec.
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Open Base64 Encode/Decode →Base64 Encoder and Decoder in JavaScript / Node.js
In browsers use btoa() and atob(). In Node.js use Buffer. For Unicode safety in the browser, encode via TextEncoder first.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in Python
Python's standard library includes the base64 module. Use b64encode and b64decode for standard Base64, and urlsafe_b64encode for URL-safe variants.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in Go
Go's encoding/base64 package provides StdEncoding for standard Base64 and URLEncoding for the URL-safe variant.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in Java
Java 8+ includes java.util.Base64. Use getEncoder() for standard Base64 and getUrlEncoder() for URL-safe encoding.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in PHP
PHP has built-in base64_encode() and base64_decode() functions. For URL-safe Base64, replace the non-URL-safe characters after encoding.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in Rust
Rust uses the base64 crate. Use general_purpose::STANDARD for standard Base64 and URL_SAFE_NO_PAD for JWT and URL contexts.
Base64 Encoder and Decoder in C# / .NET
C# provides Convert.ToBase64String and Convert.FromBase64String in the BCL. For URL-safe Base64, replace non-URL-safe characters after encoding.