Ascii85 (Base85) encoder
Every 4 bytes become 5 characters, about 7% shorter than Base64.
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Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Enter text and wrap in <~ ~>.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Each 4 bytes are read as a 32-bit number, written in base 85 as 5 digits, and 33 is added to each digit to give a character from ! to u. An all-zero group is written z; a short final group is padded with zeros and its output is cut by the same amount.
Example
Inputs: Wrap in <~ ~> = no. Result: Ascii85: 9jqo^BlbD-BleB1DJ+*+F(f,q; Bytes: 20.
Man is distinguished
9jqo^BlbD-BleB1DJ+*+F(f,q
Limits and caveats
- Adobe/btoa flavour only; Z85 and the Git/RFC 1924 Base85 alphabets are different.
- The y shortcut for spaces used by some old variants is not produced.
Questions about this tool
How does Ascii85 compare with Base64?
Ascii85 turns 4 bytes into 5 characters while Base64 turns 3 into 4, so Ascii85 is shorter but uses symbols such as " and \.
Why is there a z in the output?
It is shorthand for four zero bytes in a row instead of !!!!!.
When should I use the <~ ~> wrapper?
In PostScript and PDF streams, or whenever the start and end of the data need to be marked clearly.