Quoted Printable (RFC 2045)

Quoted Printable is a method of encoding binary data into a format that is safe for transmission over email and other text-based protocols. It works by representing non-printable or special characters as a sequence of ASCII characters, consisting of an equals sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. This encoding scheme ensures that the encoded data remains compatible with the limitations of the target protocol.

Quoted Printable encoding is primarily used for encoding email messages that contain non-ASCII characters or binary attachments. It allows these messages to be transmitted safely across different email systems without the risk of data corruption or loss. By converting special characters into their encoded form, Quoted Printable ensures that the message remains intact and can be correctly interpreted by the recipient's email client.

In addition to email, Quoted Printable encoding can also be used in other text-based protocols, such as HTTP, to safely transmit data that may contain special characters. It provides a reliable and widely supported method for encoding and decoding binary data, making it an essential tool for ensuring data integrity in various communication scenarios.

Sources:
[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quoted-printable
[2] www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2045.txt