The methods char_array<-base64_decode
and char_array<-base64_encode
realise base64 encoding and decoding conform rfc-2045. This encoding
technique is commonly used for transferring 8-bit data over 7-bit or
otherwise restricted channals.
Encoded data contains the characters 0-9, a-z, A-Z, + and / and end
in 0, 1 or 2 _=_ characters. The length of an encode string is always a
multiple of 4. char_array<-base64_decode
fails silently of the input could not be translated due to a format
error.
Base64 encoding is used in transferring E-mail, in the HTTP protocol
and many others. See also date<-rfc_string
and the class httpd from the library(http/httpd).
