Linux base64 encode decode

I use base64 encoding when I need to pass binary data or special characters through a system that only handles plain text — things like embedding credentials in config, encoding cert content for environment variables, or testing endpoints that expect base64 payloads. The file encoding examples are useful for scripting.

• Base64 encode a string

$ echo "bla" | base64
  YmxhCg==

• Base64 decode a string

$ echo "YmxhCg==" | base64 -d
  bla

• Base 64 encode file text

$ touch test

$ echo "hello" > test

$ cat test | base64 > encodedtest

• Base 64 decode file text

$ cat encodedtest | base64 -d
  hello