function::bytes_to_string - Linux
Overview
The bytes_to_string
command is a versatile utility for converting raw binary data represented as a byte array into a human-readable string representation. It’s commonly used for debugging purposes, data manipulation, and for converting binary data retrieved from network or file operations into meaningful text.
Syntax
bytes_to_string [--hex] [--base64] [--output-file FILE] <byte_array>
Options/Flags
- –hex: Encodes the byte array as a hexadecimal string.
- –base64: Encodes the byte array as a Base64 string.
- –output-file FILE: Writes the converted string to a specified file. If omitted, the string is printed to the standard output.
Examples
- Convert a byte array to a hexadecimal string:
bytes_to_string --hex 0x11 0x22 0x33 0x44 0x55
- Convert a Base64-encoded string to its binary representation:
echo "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=" | bytes_to_string --base64
- Save the converted string to a file:
bytes_to_string --hex 0x11 0x22 0x33 0x44 0x55 --output-file hex_data.txt
Common Issues
- Mismatched Encoding: Ensure the correct encoding option is used, as mismatched formats can lead to incorrect conversions.
- Incorrect Byte Array: Check that the provided byte array is valid and correctly formatted.
Integration
bytes_to_string
can be integrated with other tools for advanced tasks:
- Feed the output into
xxd
for further formatting and analysis. - Use with
openssl
to decode Base64-encoded strings obtained from cryptographic operations.
Related Commands
strings
: Extracts printable strings from binary data.hexdump
: Dumps a file or memory block in hexadecimal and ASCII.base64
: Encodes and decodes binary data to and from Base64.