ASCII85 vs Base85 (RFC 1924)

ASCII85 (often seen in PostScript/PDF) and RFC 1924 Base85 encode data using 85-character alphabets, but they differ in symbol sets and framing. ASCII85 commonly wraps data with <~ and~> and supports a shorthand for zero runs, while RFC 1924 Base85 defines a purely alphabetic variant without those delimiters. Strings are not cross-decodable between the two.

Choose the decoder that matches your source. For ZeroMQ payloads, consider Z85, another Base85 family member with its own alphabet. Our tools: ASCII85, Base85 RFC1924, and Z85.

Related tools

Try: ASCII85, Base85 RFC1924, Z85

FAQ

Are ASCII85 and Base85 (RFC 1924) compatible?

No. ASCII85 uses different alphabet and framing (often <~ ~>) than RFC 1924 Base85. Use a decoder specific to the variant.

What is Z85 and how does it relate?

Z85 is another Base85 variant used by ZeroMQ, with its own alphabet and no delimiters. It is also not compatible with ASCII85 or RFC 1924 Base85.