Base64 Encoding and Decoding in Java 8

Base64 Encoding is a technique used to convert binary data into a text format that can be safely transmitted over text-based protocols, such as email or HTTP. It converts binary data into a set of characters that consists of a combination of alphanumeric characters and special characters.

Base64 Encoding

In Java 8, the Base64 class provides built-in support for encoding and decoding data in Base64 format. Here's how to encode data using Base64 in Java:

import java.util.Base64;

public class Base64Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String data = "Hello, World!";
        
        // Encode data to Base64
        String encodedData = Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(data.getBytes());
        
        System.out.println("Encoded Data: " + encodedData);
    }
}

Output:

Encoded Data: SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==

In this example, we use the Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString() method to encode the string "Hello, World!" to Base64 format. The encodeToString() method returns the encoded data as a string.

Base64 Decoding

To Decode Base64-encoded data back to its original binary format, you can use the Base64 class in Java 8. Here's an example:

import java.util.Base64;

public class Base64Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String encodedData = "SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==";
        
        // Decode Base64-encoded data
        byte[] decodedData = Base64.getDecoder().decode(encodedData);
        
        String originalData = new String(decodedData);
        
        System.out.println("Original Data: " + originalData);
    }
}

Output:

Original Data: Hello, World!

In this example, we use the Base64.getDecoder().decode() method to decode the Base64-encoded string "SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==". The decode() method returns the decoded data as a byte array, which we then convert to a string using the String constructor.

Conclusion

Base64 encoding and decoding in Java 8 provides a simple and convenient way to convert binary data to a text-based format that can be transmitted safely. The Base64 class in Java 8 offers built-in methods for encoding and decoding data in Base64 format, making it easy to handle Base64 operations in your Java applications.

Whether you need to encode data for secure transmission or decode Base64-encoded data received from a text-based protocol, the Base64 class in Java 8 has you covered.

I hope this explanation helps you understand Base64 encoding and decoding in Java 8! Let me know if you have any further questions.