# `base64`

The `base64` library provides predicates for parsing and generating data in the Base64 and Base64URL formats as per the specification found at:

https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc4648

## API documentation

Open the ../../apis/library_index.html#base64 link in a web browser.

## Loading

To load all entities in this library, load the `loader.lgt` utility file:

    | ?- logtalk_load(base64(loader)).

## Testing

To test this library predicates, load the `tester.lgt` file:

    | ?- logtalk_load(base64(tester)).

## Encoding

Encoding a list of bytes in Base64 format is accomplished by the `base64::generate/2` predicate. For example:

    | ?- atom_codes('Hello world!', Bytes),
         base64::generate(atom(Base64), Bytes).
    Base64 = 'SGVsbG8gd29ybGQh'
    Bytes = [72,101,108,108,111,32,119,111,114,108,100,33]
    yes

    | ?- atom_codes('Hello world!', Bytes),
         base64::generate(codes(Base64), Bytes).
    Base64 = [83,71,86,115,98,71,56,103,100,50,57,121,98,71,81,104]
    Bytes = [72,101,108,108,111,32,119,111,114,108,100,33]
    yes

The Base64 result can also be represented using a list of chars, written to a file or to a stream. See the API documentation for details.

For safe encoding of URLs, use instead the Base64URL format. For example:

    | ?- base64url::generate(atom(Base64URL), 'https://logtalk.org').
    Base64URL == 'aHR0cHM6Ly9sb2d0YWxrLm9yZw'
    yes

The Base64URL can also be represented using a list of chars or a list of codes. The input URL should be in the same format.

## Decoding

Decoding of Base64 data is accomplished using the `base64::parse/2` predicate. For example:

    | ?- base64::parse(atom('SGVsbG8gd29ybGQh'), Bytes),
         atom_codes(Atom, Bytes).
    Atom = 'Hello world!'
    Bytes = [72,101,108,108,111,32,119,111,114,108,100,33]
    yes

    | ?- base64::parse(chars(['S','G','V',s,b,'G','8',g,d,'2','9',y,b,'G','Q',h]), Bytes),
         atom_codes(Atom, Bytes).
    Atom = 'Hello world!'
    Bytes = [72,101,108,108,111,32,119,111,114,108,100,33]
    yes

The `base64::parse/2` predicate accepts other input source such as a file or a stream. See the API documentation for details.

For decoding of URLs in the Base64URL format, use the `base64url::parse/2` predicate. For example:

    | ?- base64url::parse(atom('aHR0cHM6Ly9sb2d0YWxrLm9yZw'), URL).
    URL == 'https://logtalk.org'
    yes

The `base64url::parse/2` predicate also accepts a list of chars or a list of codes as input. See the API documentation for details.