Data Encoding

• Two encoding schemes are generally used on the Internet
  • uuencode/uudecode
  • binhex/unbinhex
• The first of these, uuencode, is used across all platforms (unix, windows, mac) while binhex is used extensively with macs and occasionally windows
• Each of these convert data files into a purely ASCII text format (minus non-printable characters)
• Multiple files can be combined into single encoded files
• Some software programs (e.g. mailers) automatically encode files prior to transmission and decode received files