all Python 3base64function

base64.encode()

legacy interface

Legacy interface: reads a binary file and writes Base64 to another file in lines of 76 characters, as in MIME.

Syntax

base64.encode(input, output)

Both files must be opened in binary mode ('rb' and 'wb'): a text file gives TypeError. The output has a newline after every 76 characters plus one at the end, so it is not the single line b64encode gives. For data held in memory it is awkward; b64encode is simpler.

Examples

import base64
with open('data.bin', 'wb') as f:
    f.write(b'x' * 60)
with open('data.bin', 'rb') as src, open('data.b64', 'wb') as dst:
    base64.encode(src, dst)
with open('data.b64', 'rb') as f:
    print(f.read().count(b'\n'))  # → 2

See also

Common errors

Open in the full glossarydocs.python.orgReport an inaccuracy