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<AgentInstructions>

## Submitting Feedback

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```json
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  "path": "/reference-sql/functions-reference/bytea/encode",
  "feedback": "Description of the issue"
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```

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> Reference material for ENCODE function

# ENCODE

Encode binary data into a SQL expression of type `TEXT`.

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
ENCODE(<expression>, <format>)
```

## Parameters

| Parameter      | Description                         | Supported input types                        |
| :------------- | :---------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
| `<expression>` | A SQL expression of type `BYTEA`    | `BYTEA`                                      |
| `<format>`     | Format to use to encode binary data | `HEX`, `ESCAPE`, `BASE64` (case insensitive) |

The `HEX` format represents each 4 bits of data as one hexadecimal digit, 0 through f, writing the higher-order digit of each byte first. The `ENCODE` function outputs the a-f hex digits in lower case. Because the smallest unit of data is 8 bits, there are always an even number of characters returned by `ENCODE`.

The `ESCAPE` format converts zero bytes and bytes with the high bit set into octal escape sequences (\nnn) and doubles backslashes. Other byte values are represented literally.

THE `BASE64` format, per [RFC 2045 Section 6.8](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2045#section-6.8), breaks encoded lines at 76 characters using a newline for end of line.

## Return Type

`TEXT`

## Example

The following examples encode binary expressions to the `ESCAPE`, `HEX`, and `BASE64` format:

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT
	ENCODE('123\000456'::BYTEA, 'ESCAPE');
```

**Returns**: `123\000456`

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT
	ENCODE('123\000456'::BYTEA, 'HEX');
```

**Returns**: `31323300343536`

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT
	ENCODE('123\000456'::BYTEA, 'BASE64');
```

**Returns**: `MTIzADQ1Ng==`