An encoding scheme that converts
binary data into
ASCII characters. Any file, whether it be a
graphics file, a
text file, or a
binary executable file, can be converted to BinHex. This format is particularly valuable for transferring files from one
platform to another because nearly all computers can handle
ASCII files. In fact, many
e-mail programs include a BinHex encoder and decoder for sending and receiving
attachments. BinHex is an especially common format for Macintosh files. Encoded files usually have a
.HQX extension.
An alternative algorithm for converting binary files to ASCII is Uuencode.
