Which is a better XML attribute: base=64 or encoding=base64

Question

I am designing an XML and wish to allow binary data to be encoded as either base16 or base64. The default will be base16.

For specifying base64, I wish to have an attribute. My two options are:

<foo encoding='base64'>TqpuiunH0mEWcSkYSINkTQffuny=</foo>

and:

<foo base='64'>TqpuiunH0mEWcSkYSINkTQffuny=</foo>

I think that the first is more descriptive but suspect that the second might be better. I'm looking for people's reactions.

Thanks.

Oded · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-29 14:50:04Z

6

Seeing as base64 is an encoding, the more semantic markup would be encoding="base64".

People seeing base may think about a decimal base or binary, for example, which I don't believe is what you would want a reader to think.

answered Apr 29, 2011 at 14:50

Oded

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1 Comment

vy32 Over a year ago

Thanks. That's my feeling as well.

Michael Kay · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-29 15:03:37Z

1

Depends what the other options are. If the other options are base="2", base="10", or base="32" then I would use base="64". If the other options are encoding="hexBinary" and encoding="ebcdic" then I would use encoding="base64". I don't think you can decide the best representation for an attribute when you only know one of its possible values.

answered Apr 29, 2011 at 15:03

Michael Kay

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1 Comment

vy32 Over a year ago

Thanks. I think that you've convinced me to go with encoding="base64"

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