Base64 is a method for encoding binary data into a text format using a set of 64 different characters. This encoding is useful for transmitting data over media that are designed to handle text, such as email or JSON. It converts data into a string of ASCII characters, making it easier to store and share. The Base64 encoding process takes three bytes of binary data and converts them into four characters. Each character represents a 6-bit segment of the original data. This results in a larger output, typically increasing the size by about 33%, but ensures that the data remains intact during transmission.