Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format, using a set of 64 characters – uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, and symbols.

The purpose of using Base64 is to ensure that data remains intact and is not modified during transport. This is particularly useful when transmitting data over media that are designed to handle text, such as email or HTTP. Encoding binary data into ASCII characters helps to prevent data corruption during transmission.