User Guide

ToBinary 723
ToBinary
Description
Calculates the binary representation of Base64-encoded data.
Returns
The binary representation of Base64-encoded data.
Category
Conversion functions, Other functions, String functions
Function syntax
ToBinary(string_in_Base64 or binary_value)
See also
• cffile for information about loading and reading binary data
• cfwddx for information about serializing and deserializing binary data
• IsBinary and ToBase64 for checking format and converting to Base64
• Len for determining the length of a binary object
Parameters
Usage
Base64 provides 6-bit encoding of 8-bit ASCII characters. From Base64 data, you can recreate the
binary object that it represents, such as a GIF, JPG, or executable file.
Example
<h3>ToBinary Example</h3>
<!---- Initialize data. ---->
<cfset charData = "">
<!---- Create a string of ASCII characters (32-255); concatenate them. ---->
<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>
<cfoutput>#charData#</cfoutput></p>
<!----- Create a Base64 representation of this string. ----->
<cfset data64 = toBase64(charData)>
<!--- Convert string to binary. ---->
<cfset binaryData = toBinary(data64)>
<!--- Convert binary back to Base64. --->
<cfset another64 = toBase64(binaryData)>
<!---- Compare another64 with data64 to ensure that they are equal. ---->
<cfif another64 eq data64>
<h3>Base64 representation of binary data is identical to the Base64
representation of string data.</h3>
Parameter Description
string_in_Base64 or
binary_value
A string or a variable that contains one:
• In Base64 format to convert to binary
• In binary format to test whether it is valid