Base64 is an encoding system that allows the translation of binary data into ASCII text strings, basing upon 64 different ASCII characters. Each Base64 digit represents exactly 6 bits of data so, for example, six bytes (a total of 48 bits) can be represented by eight Base64 digits.
By writing the command base64 you can encode and decode Base64 data.
The command follows the structure:
Device-name:Current-position username$ base64 [flag] [-i input item] [-o output item]
In this case, flag such as -i and -o are fundamental
to define respectevely from which file take the stream and into which to store
the result. Naturally, the path and the name of the files must be specified.
Device-name:Current-position username$ base64 -i path/input.file -o path/output.file
Using the -b (which stands for break) flag followed by a
number, line breaks are added every specified "number" characters.
Device-name:Current-position username$ base64 -b number path/input.file path/output.file
By leaving the number field empty, an unbroken stream will be generated.
Using the -D flag (which stands for decode), you obtain as
output the input message decoded into binary data.
Device-name:Current-position username$ base64 -D [-i input item] [-o output item]
Using the -h (which stands for help) a short paragraph
in which are listed the flags with the respective paragraph will be displayed.
Device-name:Current-position username$ base64 -h