Updated April 18, 2023
Introduction to PHP base64_encode
The following article provides an outline for PHP base64_encode. The Base64_encode method is used to encode our data. When we use the base64_encode method in the program, we convert them into a sequence of bytes and then convert it to the text of string in PHP. Base64_encode method works in the same way as it does in other programming languages main purpose of this method is that it is used to encode our data as a part of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. The base64_encode method takes one parameter, and it is our string that we want to encode while passing.
Syntax:
As we saw, this method takes only one parameter as the input. We can pass our string which we want to encode in base64 format.
string base64_encode( $your_data )As we can see above, we can pass our data inside this method as a parameter. This takes only one parameter as the input here.
Now we can see one practice syntax to know it better:
Example:
string base64_encode( "hello just syntax " )How base64_encode Method work in PHP?
As of now, we know that this method is used to encode our data into a sequence of bytes. This method used where we want to hide our secrets over the network. We can define our own encoding method also. This will be useful where we have some keys or secrets exposing to the network. So we can encode our data by using the base64_encode method in PHP to protect them as well. This will simply be the sequence o the bytes here that can be again converted into the text of string while decoding it.
Byte the use of this, there are very few changes that our message will get corrupted by the system, original string or data will be safe, and we can easily decode them at the other side by using any decoding mechanism for this. Encoding styles are highly recommending in the programming language when needed. We can easily encode image as well and send them over the network using any XML or JSON file. base64 encode method allows us to easily bind the binary data as Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.
We will now see the method signature, how it works, and how many parameters it takes in detail.
Method signature
So let’s have a look at the method signature:
Signature:
string base64_encode($your_data)Return Type
As of now, we see that the return type for this method is written as a string here. So this will return a string of base64. This will return False if the method is not able to encode the given string provided; otherwise, it will return string on successful execution of the method.
Parameter
This method takes only one parameter as the input. We can pass any data here that we want to encode in base64. This is the mandatory parameter and the only parameter for the base64 encode method.
Example:
Code:
<?php
$mystr = 'Sample string to encode';
echo base64_encode($mystring);
?>In the above lines of code, we define a string that we are trying to convert into base64 encoding. So first, we have created one string named as ‘mystr’; after this, we have called the base64_encode method and passed this parameter inside this method. So it will convert the existing string into encode base64. This will generate some sequence of characters that can be easily decoded by using some method in PHP.
Some points we need to keep in mind while working with the base64_encode method:
- This is the in-build method provided by PHP.
- This method will generate a sequence of character for a particular string in PHP.
- An encoded string of data can be again converted back into the string of text.
- By using this, we can encode images and place them in an XML or JSON.
By the use of base64 encoding, we can encode our secrets and keys, which we do not to get corrupt by anything. Hence the original message will be remaining the same.
Advantage:
- By the use of the base6_ encode method, we can end binary data.
Disadvantage:
- When we convert or encode the data by using the base64_encode method, it occupies more space in the memory than usual. It will increase the memory space for the data by 33 percent.
Examples of PHP base64_encode
Given below are the examples of PHP base64_encode:
Example #1
In this example, we create a different string and try to encode them using the base64 encode method.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>Demo for base64 encode method in PHP !!</h2>
<br />
<?php
$mystr1 = 'Hello i am example one to encode string to base64 in PHP.!!';
$myencode1 = base64_encode($mystr1);
echo $myencode1. "\n";
$mystr2 = 'Hello i am example two to encode string to base64 in PHP.!!';
$myencode2 = base64_encode($mystr2);
echo $myencode2. "\n";
$mystr3 = 'Hello i am example three to encode string to base64 in PHP.!!';
$myencode3 = base64_encode($mystr3);
echo $myencode3. "\n";
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Example #2
In this example, we are encoding empty string, some string integer and black space to see how they look after being encoded.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>Demo for base64 encode method in PHP !!</h2>
<br />
<?php
$mystr1 = '100200, 300 , 500, 600';
$myencode1 = base64_encode($mystr1);
echo $myencode1. "\n";
$mystr2 = ' ';
$myencode2 = base64_encode($mystr2);
echo $myencode2. "\n";
$mystr3 = 'I am not empty ';
$myencode3 = base64_encode($mystr3);
echo $myencode3. "\n";
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Conclusion
By the use of the base64_encode method, we can encode our data and send the binary data over the network using email attachments. This encoding will generate the sequence of characters or bytes for us. Then this can be converted back into the original message.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to PHP base64_encode. Here we discuss the introduction, syntax, and working of the base64_encode method in PHP along with different examples. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
