Base32
Base32 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format using a 32-character subset of the alphabet and digits. It is commonly used for encoding data in contexts where human readability or case-insensitivity is required, such as in URLs, file names, or cryptographic applications like TOTP (Time-based One-Time Passwords). The encoding works by dividing binary input into 5-bit groups and mapping each group to a predefined character from the Base32 alphabet.
Developers should learn Base32 when they need to encode binary data into a text format that avoids special characters and is case-insensitive, making it suitable for use in URLs, file systems, or systems where data integrity is critical. It is particularly useful in security applications, such as generating TOTP codes for two-factor authentication, and in data serialization where readability and compactness are prioritized over efficiency compared to Base64.