User Guide
Chapter 2: ColdFusion Functions 543
ToBase64
Returns the Base 64 representation of the string or binary object. Base64 is a format
that uses printable characters, allowing binary data to be sent in forms and Email, and
stored in a database or file.
See also CFFILE for information about loading and reading binary data, CFWDDX for
information about serializing and deserializing binary data, and IsBinary and To Bi n a r y
for checking for binary data and converting a Base 64 object to binary form.
Syntax ToBase64(
string or binary_object
)
string or binary_object
String or binary object that is to be converted to Base 64.
Usage Base 64 provides 6 bit encoding of 8-bit ASCII characters. Because high ASCII values
and binary objects are not safe for transport over internet protocols such as HTTP and
SMTP, ColdFusion offers Base 64 as a means to safely send ASCII and binary data over
these protocols.
In addition, Base 64 allows you to store binary objects in a database if you convert the
data into Base 64 first.
Examples <!--- This example shows the use of ToBinary and ToBase64 --->
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
ToBase64 Example
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BASEFONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFD5">
<H3>ToBase64 Example</H3>
<!----------------------------------------------------------------------
Initialize data.
----------------------------------------------------------------------->
<CFSET charData ="">
<!----------------------------------------------------------------------
Create a string of all ASCII characters (32-255) and concatenate them
together.
----------------------------------------------------------------------->
<CFLOOP index="data" from="32" to="255">
<CFSET ch=chr(data)>
<CFSET charData=charData & ch>
</CFLOOP>
<P>
The following string is the concatenation of all characters (32 to 255)
from the ASCII table.<BR>