> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://osl.mistium.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://osl.mistium.com/methods/strings/encoding.md).

# Encoding, Hashing & Input

Methods for character codes, Base64/hex/binary encoding, cryptographic digests and reading input.

## Character codes

#### `.ord()` → `int`

The character code of the first character.

```javascript
log "A".ord()  // 65
```

> To go the other way (code → character) use the number method `.chr()`, e.g. `(65).chr()` → `"A"`. See [Number conversion](/methods/numbers/arithmetic.md).

## Base64, hex & binary

#### `.btoa()` → `string` / `.atob()` → `string`

Base64-encode / decode the string.

```javascript
log "hi".btoa()    // "aGk="
log "aGk=".atob()  // "hi"
```

#### `.encodeHex()` / `.decodeHex()` → `string`

Hex-encode / decode. (Imports `osl/crypto`.)

#### `.encodeBin()` / `.decodeBin()` → `string`

Binary-string encode / decode. (Imports `osl/crypto`.)

## Hashing

#### `.hashMD5()` / `.hashSHA1()` / `.hashSHA256()` / `.hashSHA512()` → `string`

Returns the hex digest of the string using the named algorithm.

```javascript
log "hi".hashSHA256()
// "8f434346648f6b96df89dda901c5176b10a6d83961dd3c1ac88b59b2dc327aa4"
```

## Input

#### `.ask()` → `result`

Prints the string as a prompt and reads a line from standard input, returning a [`result`](/packages/utilities/result.md).

```javascript
auto answer = "Continue? ".ask().unwrapOr("no")
```