Base-32 is a numeral system that uses 32 distinct symbols to represent data. It is commonly used in computing and data encoding, allowing binary data to be converted into a more human-readable format. The symbols typically include the uppercase letters A-Z and the digits 2-7, making it suitable for applications where case sensitivity is a concern. This encoding method is often employed in scenarios like URL shortening, email encoding, and cryptography. Base-32 is particularly useful for encoding data in environments that may not handle binary data well, ensuring that the information remains intact and easily transferable.