# phpman > man > uuencode(1) > **TLDR:** Encode binary files into ASCII for transport via mediums that only support simple ASCII encoding. > - Encode a file and print the result to `stdout`: `uuencode {{path/to/input_file}} {{output_file_name_after_decoding}}` - Encode a file and write the result to a file: `uuencode -o {{path/to/output_file}} {{path/to/input_file}} {{output_file_name_after_decoding}}` - Encode a file using Base64 instead of the default uuencode encoding and write the result to a file: `uuencode {{-m|--base64}} -o {{path/to/output_file}} {{path/to/input_file}} {{output_file_name_after_decoding}}` *Source: tldr-pages* --- [uuencode(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uuencode/1/markdown) User Commands [uuencode(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uuencode/1/markdown) ## NAME **uuencode** - encode a file into email friendly text ## SYNOPSIS **uuencode** [**-flags**] [**-flag** [_value_]] [**--option-name**[[=| ]_value_]] [] ## DESCRIPTION _uuencode_ is used to create an ASCII representation of a file that can be sent over channels that may otherwise corrupt the data. Specifically, email cannot handle binary data and will often even insert a character when the six character sequence "0rom " is seen. _uuencode_ will read _in-file_ if provided and otherwise read data from standard in and write the encoded form to standard out. The output will begin with a header line for use by _uudecode_ giving it the resulting suggested file _output-name_ and access mode. If the _output-name_ is specifically _/dev/stdout_, then _uudecode_ will emit the decoded file to standard out. **Note**: _uuencode_ uses buffered input and assumes that it is not hand typed from a tty. The consequence is that at a tty, you may need to hit Ctl-D several times to terminate input. ## OPTIONS ### -m --base64 convert using base64. By default, _uuencode_ will encode using the traditional conversion. It is slower and less compact than base64. The encoded form of the file is expanded by 37% for UU en‐ coding and by 35% for base64 encoding (3 bytes become 4 plus control information). ### -e --encode-file-name encode the output file name. Since output file names may contain characters that are not handled well by various transmission modes, you may specify that the _output-name_ be base64 encoded as well. (Traditional uuencoding of the file name is not supported.) ### -h --help Display usage information and exit. **-!**, **--more-help** Pass the extended usage information through a pager. ### -R --save-opts Save the option state to _cfgfile_. The default is the _last_ configuration file listed in the **OPTION** **PRESETS** section, below. The command will exit after updating the config file. ### -r --load-opts --no-load-opts Load options from _cfgfile_. The _no-load-opts_ form will disable the loading of earlier config/rc/ini files. _--no-load-opts_ is handled early, out of order. ### -v --version Output version of program and exit. The default mode is `v', a simple version. The `c' mode will print copyright information and `n' will print the full copyright no‐ tice. ## OPTION PRESETS Any option that is not marked as _not_ _presettable_ may be preset by loading values from config‐ uration ("RC" or ".INI") file(s). The file "_$HOME/.sharrc_" will be used, if present. ## STANDARDS This implementation is compliant with P1003.2b/D11. ## FILES See **OPTION** **PRESETS** for configuration files. ## EXIT STATUS One of the following exit values will be returned: 0 (EXIT_SUCCESS) Successful program execution. 1 (EXIT_FAILURE) The operation failed or the command syntax was not valid. 66 (EX_NOINPUT) A specified configuration file could not be loaded. 70 (EX_SOFTWARE) libopts had an internal operational error. Please report it to autogen- . Thank you. ## SEE ALSO [uudecode(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uudecode/1/markdown), [uuencode(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uuencode/5/markdown) ## HISTORY The **uuencode** command first appeared in BSD 4.0. ## AUTHORS Free Software Foundation, Inc. ## COPYRIGHT Copyright (C) 1994-2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc. all rights reserved. This program is released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. ## BUGS Please put **sharutils** in the subject line for emailed bug reports. It helps to spot the mes‐ sage. Please send bug reports to: ## NOTES This manual page was _AutoGen_-erated from the **uuencode** option definitions. GNU sharutils (4.15.2) 30 May 2015 [uuencode(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/uuencode/1/markdown)