BASE64DECODE Function

Converts an input base64 value to text. Output type is String.

base64 is a method of representing data in a binary format over text protocols. During encoding, text values are converted to binary values 0-63. Each value is stored as an ASCII character based on a conversion chart.
- Typically, base64 is used to transmit binary information, such as images, over transfer methods that use text, such as HTTP.
  Note
  base64 is not an effective method of encryption.
- For more information on base64, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base64.

Wrangle vs. SQL: This function is part of Wrangle, a proprietary data transformation language. Wrangle is not SQL. For more information, see Wrangle Language.

Basic Usage

Column reference example:

base64decode(mySource)

Output: Decodes the base64 values from the mySource column into text.

String literal example:

base64decode('GVsbG8sIFdvcmxkLiA=')

Output:Decodes the input value to the following text: Hello, World..

Syntax and Arguments

base64decode(column_string)

Argument	Required?	Data Type	Description
column_string	Y	string	Name of the column or string literal to be applied to the function

For more information on syntax standards, see Language Documentation Syntax Notes.

column_string

Name of the column or string constant to be converted.

Missing string or column values generate missing string results.
String constants must be quoted ('Hello, World').
Multiple columns and wildcards are not supported.

Usage Notes:

Required?	Data Type	Example Value
Yes	String literal or column reference	myColumn

Examples

Tip

For additional examples, see Common Tasks.

Example - base64 encoding and decoding

This example demonstrates how to convert an input string to a base64-encoded value and back to ASCII text strings.

Functions:

Item	Description
BASE64ENCODE Function	Converts an input value to base64 encoding with optional padding with an equals sign (`=`). Input can be of any type. Output type is String.
BASE64DECODE Function	Converts an input base64 value to text. Output type is String.

Source:

The following example contains three columns of different data types:

IntegerField	StringField	ssn
-2082863942	This is a test string.	987654321
2012994989	"Hello, world."	987654322
-1637187918	"Hello, world. Hello, world. Hello, world."	987654323
-1144194035	fyi	987654324
-971872543		987654325
353977583	This is a test string.	987-65-4321
-366583667	"Hello, world."	987-65-4322
-573117553	"Hello, world. Hello, world. Hello, world."	987-65-4323
2051041970	fyi	987-65-4324
522691086		987-65-4325

Transformation - encode:

You can use the following transformation to encode all of the columns in your dataset:

Transformation Name	`Edit column with formula`
Parameter: Columns	All
Parameter: Formula	base64encode($col, true)

Results - encode:

The transformed dataset now looks like the following. Note the padding (equals signs) at the end of some of the values. Padding is added by default.

IntegerField	StringField	ssn
LTIwODI4NjM5NDI=	VGhpcyBpcyBhIHRlc3Qgc3RyaW5nLg==	OTg3NjU0MzIx
MjAxMjk5NDk4OQ==	IkhlbGxvLCB3b3JsZC4i	OTg3NjU0MzIy
LTE2MzcxODc5MTg=	IkhlbGxvLCB3b3JsZC4gSGVsbG8sIHdvcmxkLiBIZWxsbywgd29ybGQuIg==	OTg3NjU0MzIz
LTExNDQxOTQwMzU=	Znlp	OTg3NjU0MzI0
LTk3MTg3MjU0Mw==		OTg3NjU0MzI1
MzUzOTc3NTgz	VGhpcyBpcyBhIHRlc3Qgc3RyaW5nLg==	OTg3LTY1LTQzMjE=
LTM2NjU4MzY2Nw==	IkhlbGxvLCB3b3JsZC4i	OTg3LTY1LTQzMjI=
LTU3MzExNzU1Mw==	IkhlbGxvLCB3b3JsZC4gSGVsbG8sIHdvcmxkLiBIZWxsbywgd29ybGQuIg==	OTg3LTY1LTQzMjM=
MjA1MTA0MTk3MA==	Znlp	OTg3LTY1LTQzMjQ=
NTIyNjkxMDg2		OTg3LTY1LTQzMjU=

Transformation - decode:

The following transformation can be used to decode all of the columns:

Transformation Name	`Edit column with formula`
Parameter: Columns	All
Parameter: Formula	base64decode($col)

Results - decode:

IntegerField	StringField	ssn
-2082863942	This is a test string.	987654321
2012994989	"Hello, world."	987654322
-1637187918	"Hello, world. Hello, world. Hello, world."	987654323
-1144194035	fyi	987654324
-971872543		987654325
353977583	This is a test string.	987-65-4321
-366583667	"Hello, world."	987-65-4322
-573117553	"Hello, world. Hello, world. Hello, world."	987-65-4323
2051041970	fyi	987-65-4324
522691086		987-65-4325

In this section: