Skip to content

uuencode Linux Command Guide

The Linux uuencode command is used to encode binary files into a text format. This allows for easy transfer of files through email or other text-based methods. The syntax for uuencode is simple, making it a convenient tool for encoding files on the command line. Just provide the input file to encode and the desired output file, and uuencode will do the rest.

uuencode Syntax:

Terminal window
uuencode [options] input_file output_file

Options:

OptionDescription
-mUse base64 encoding instead of uuencoding

Parameters:

ParameterDescription
input_fileThe file to be encoded
output_fileThe output file containing the encoding

uuencode Command Samples:

Encode a File into a MIME-encoded Format

Terminal window
uuencode file.txt encoded_file.txt | mail -s "Encoded File" [email protected]

Encodes the file “file.txt” into a MIME-encoded format and sends it as an email attachment.

Encode a File with Specific Permissions

Terminal window
uuencode -m 644 file.pdf encoded_file.pdf

Encodes the file “file.pdf” with specific permissions (644) and saves it as “encoded_file.pdf”.

Encode Multiple Files Together

Terminal window
uuencode file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt > multiple_files.txt

Encodes multiple files “file1.txt”, “file2.txt”, and “file3.txt” into a single encoded file “multiple_files.txt”.

Decode a MIME-encoded File

Terminal window
uudecode encoded_picture.jpg

Decodes the MIME-encoded file “encoded_picture.jpg” back to its original format.

View Encoded File Content

Terminal window
uuencode -o encoded.txt original.txt
cat encoded.txt

Encodes the file “original.txt” and then displays the content of the resulting encoded file “encoded.txt”.

Encode a File with a Custom Name

Terminal window
uuencode original_file.doc -o custom_name.doc

Encodes the file “original_file.doc” and saves it with a custom name as “custom_name.doc”.

Encode a File in Base64 Format

Terminal window
uuencode -m -b image.png encoded_image.txt

Encodes the file “image.png” in base64 format and saves it as “encoded_image.txt”.

uuencode FAQ:

How do I use uuencode in Linux?

To use the uuencode command in Linux, execute the following command:

Terminal window
uuencode filename output_filename

How can I specify the name of the encoded file with uuencode?

You can specify the name of the encoded file by providing the output_filename parameter along with the input file name when using uuencode.

Terminal window
uuencode input_file encoded_file > output_filename

What are some common options used with uuencode in Linux?

One common option used with uuencode is the -m flag, which outputs the encoded file in MIME format. This is useful for email transmission.

Terminal window
uuencode -m input_file output_filename

How do I decode a file encoded with uuencode in Linux?

To decode a file that was encoded using uuencode, you can use the uudecode command. Simply provide the encoded file as an input to uudecode.

Terminal window
uudecode encoded_file

Can I decode multiple files encoded with uuencode at once in Linux?

Yes, you can decode multiple uuencoded files at once by providing all the encoded files as inputs to the uudecode command.

Terminal window
uudecode file1 file2 file3

How do I view the contents of an encoded file without decoding it using uuencode in Linux?

To view the contents of an encoded file without decoding it, you can use the -p flag with uuencode. This will display the encoded content in the terminal.

Terminal window
uuencode -p encoded_file

Applications of the uuencode command

  • Encoding binary files to ensure safe transmission over email or other text-based communication channels.