{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "UUENCODE",
    "section": "5",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/UUENCODE/5/json",
    "generated": "2026-09-01T21:04:13Z",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "uuencode - format of an encoded uuencode file\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "Files output by uuencode(1) consist of a header line, followed by a number of body lines, and\na  trailer  line.  The uudecode(1) command will ignore any lines preceding the header or fol‐\nlowing the trailer.  Lines preceding a header must not, of course, look like a header.\n\nThe header line is distinguished by having the first 5 characters  be  begin  followed  by  a\nspace,  or else a hyphen and either base64 or encoded or both (also separated with a hyphen).\nThe base64 option says the file has been encoded using base64.  The encoded option  says  the\noutput  file  name has been base64 encoded.  It is never encoded with traditional uuencoding.\nThis is a GNU extension.  These are followed by a mode (in octal), and a string  which  names\nthe  remote  file.  The mode is separated from the begin clause and the file name by a single\nspace character.\n",
            "subsections": [
                {
                    "name": "Traditional uuencoding",
                    "content": "The traditional uuencoded file body consists of a number of lines, each at most 62 characters\nlong (including the trailing newline). These consist of a character count letter, followed by\nthe encoded characters, followed by a newline.  The character  count  is  a  single  printing\ncharacter,  and  represents  an integer, the number of bytes the rest of the line represents.\nSuch integers are always in the range from 0 to 63 and can be determined by  subtracting  the\ncharacter space (octal 40) from the character.\n\nGroups  of  3  bytes  are  stored in 4 characters, 6 bits per character.  All are offset by a\nspace to make the characters printing.  The last line may  be  shorter  than  the  normal  45\nbytes.   If  the size is not a multiple of 3, this fact can be determined by the value of the\ncount on the last line.  Extra garbage will be included to make the character count a  multi‐\nple  of 4.  The body is terminated by a line with a count of zero.  This line consists of one\nASCII space.\n\nThe trailer line consists of end on a line by itself.\n"
                },
                {
                    "name": "base64 encoding",
                    "content": "base64 encoded files follow the specified format for the body,  but  also  include  a  begin-\nbase64 header and a trailer line of four = characters.\n"
                }
            ]
        },
        "EXAMPLES": {
            "content": "begin-base64-encoded 644 VE9ETw==\nThis  introduces a base64 encoded file named, TODO with that name encoded using base64 encod‐\ning.\n\nbegin-encoded 644 5$]$3P``\nThis introduces an encoded file named, TODO with that name encoded using uuencoding.  The en‐\ncoding is a lot less friendly.  Please prefer base64 encoding.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "CONFORMING TO": {
            "content": "IEEE Std 1003.1, plus extensions\n\nThe -encoded suffix to the begin header line is a GNU extension.  Recipients  must  have  the\nGNU uudecode program to decode them.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "uuencode(1), uudecode(1), base64(1GNU)\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "HISTORY": {
            "content": "The uuencode file format appeared in BSD 4.0 .\n\nUUENCODE(5)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "uuencode - format of an encoded uuencode file",
    "flags": [],
    "examples": [
        "begin-base64-encoded 644 VE9ETw==",
        "This  introduces a base64 encoded file named, TODO with that name encoded using base64 encod‐",
        "ing.",
        "begin-encoded 644 5$]$3P``",
        "This introduces an encoded file named, TODO with that name encoded using uuencoding.  The en‐",
        "coding is a lot less friendly.  Please prefer base64 encoding."
    ],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "uuencode",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uuencode/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "uudecode",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uudecode/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "base64",
            "section": "1GNU",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/base64/1GNU/json"
        }
    ]
}