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Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format by translating it into a radix-64 representation. The term "Base64" refers to the fact that it uses 64 characters to represent data, which includes uppercase and lowercase English letters, digits, and two additional characters, typically '+' and '/'. This encoding is commonly used in various applications, such as email via MIME, and in URLs where binary data needs to be included in a text-only context.

The Base64 encoding process involves converting binary data into a sequence of 6-bit chunks, which are then mapped to the 64-character set. Each 3-byte (24-bit) segment of binary data is divided into four 6-bit segments, and each 6-bit segment is represented by one of the 64 characters. If the input data length is not a multiple of 3, padding characters ('=') are added to ensure the output length is a multiple of 4.

Base64 encoding is not a form of encryption, and it does not provide any security. It is primarily used for data transmission and storage purposes, where binary data needs to be represented in a text format. The decoding process is straightforward, involving the reverse mapping of the 64-character set back to binary data.

Base64 encoding has some limitations, such as increased data size (approximately 33% larger than the original binary data) and the potential for data corruption if the encoded string is altered. Despite these limitations, Base64 remains a widely used encoding scheme due to its simplicity and effectiveness in handling binary data in text-based systems.