Why Encode Hashes with Base64/Base16 After MD5? A Deep Dive into Hashing vs. Encoding

Many developers are familiar with hashing algorithms like MD5 but are often puzzled by the subsequent "Digest Encoding" step using Base16 or Base64. This article delves into why this process is necessary, explaining that hash functions produce raw binary data. Encoding serves to convert this binary output into a text-based format that is easy to store, transmit, and read. Through clear examples, we demonstrate that the common 32-character MD5 string is simply the Base16 (Hexadecimal) representation of its binary result, helping you fully grasp the crucial link between hashing and encoding.