Formula - base64decode
The base64decode Formula function decodes base64 text and returns the original text, read with UTF-8 or with the source encoding you name.
Animated walkthrough: a Logic App request carries the Order Entry XML of the Order-to-Cash demo as base64 in $content; base64decode(jsonPath('$content', body)) returns the decoded XML.
Syntax
base64decode(content [, 'source encoding'])
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
content |
Yes | The base64 text to decode: body, context, or the result of another function, such as jsonPath. |
'source encoding' |
No | The character encoding of the decoded bytes, such as 'UTF-8' or 'iso-8859-1'. Use the encoding the sender used before it encoded the text. Without it, the bytes are read as UTF-8. |
Returns
The decoded text. When the content holds several values, for example from jsonPath, each value is decoded and returned as its own Search Field value. When the content has no value, such as a missing context key, nothing is returned. Content that isn't base64 returns no value either, and the test bench shows the .NET message The input is not a valid Base-64 string as it contains a non-base 64 character, ….
Examples
Example 1: Decode a base64 message body
Input
bm9kaW5pdGU=
Formula
base64decode(body)
Result
nodinite
The base64 body decodes to nodinite with the default UTF-8 encoding.
Example 2: Decode UTF-8 text with a special character
Input
U2tlbGxlZnRlw6U=
Formula
base64decode(body, 'UTF-8')
Result
Skellefteå
The two UTF-8 bytes for å decode correctly because the source encoding matches.
Example 3: Decode ISO-8859-1 text
The same word, encoded from ISO-8859-1 bytes, is a different base64 string. Name the encoding to read the bytes correctly.
Input
U2tlbGxlZnRl5Q==
Formula
base64decode(body, 'iso-8859-1')
Result
Skellefteå
In ISO-8859-1, å is the single byte E5, so the base64 text differs from Example 2 but decodes to the same word.
Example 4: Decode a context property
Input
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
id |
bm9kaW5pdGU= |
Formula
base64decode(context('id'))
Result
nodinite
The value of the context property id is decoded; the message body isn't used.
Example 5: Decode several values from a JSON body
Input
[ { "name": "YXdlc29tZQ==" }, { "name": "ZnVuY3Rpb24=" } ]
Formula
base64decode(jsonPath('$..name',body))
Result
awesome
function
jsonPath returns two base64 values, and base64decode decodes each one: two unique matches.
Notes
- The source encoding must match the bytes inside the base64 text. Reading ISO-8859-1 bytes as UTF-8 turns characters such as
åinto replacement characters. - When every message of a Message Type is logged as base64, you can set its encoding to a Base64 Decode into … option instead. The Logging Service then decodes the body before any Search Field Expression runs, so plain body is already text; see Base64 Decode into an encoding.
- Encoding names follow .NET; see the List of encodings.