---
name: "uuencode"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sharutils"
version: "4.15.2-6"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/uuencode"
---

# uuencode(1)

encode a file into email friendly text

## NAME

**uuencode** - encode a file into email friendly text

## SYNOPSIS

**uuencode** \[**-flags**\] \[**-flag** \[*value*\]\] \[**--option-name**\[\[=\| \]*value*\]\] \[\<in-file\>\] \<output-name\>

## DESCRIPTION

*uuencode* is used to create an ASCII representation of a file that can be sent over channels that may otherwise corrupt the data. Specifically, email cannot handle binary data and will often even insert a character when the six character sequence "0rom " is seen.

*uuencode* will read *in-file* if provided and otherwise read data from standard in and write the encoded form to standard out. The output will begin with a header line for use by *uudecode* giving it the resulting suggested file *output-name* and access mode.  If the *output-name* is specifically */dev/stdout*, then *uudecode* will emit the decoded file to standard out.

**Note**: *uuencode* uses buffered input and assumes that it is not hand typed from a tty.  The consequence is that at a tty, you may need to hit Ctl-D several times to terminate input.

## OPTIONS

- **-m**, **--base64**

  convert using base64.

  By default, *uuencode* will encode using the traditional conversion.  It is slower and less compact than base64. The encoded form of the file is expanded by 37% for UU encoding and by 35% for base64 encoding (3 bytes become 4 plus control information).

- **-e**, **--encode-file-name**

  encode the output file name.

  Since output file names may contain characters that are not handled well by various transmission modes, you may specify that the *output-name* be base64 encoded as well. (Traditional uuencoding of the file name is not supported.)

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display usage information and exit.

- **-!**, **--more-help**

  Pass the extended usage information through a pager.

- **-R** \[*cfgfile*\], **--save-opts** \[=*cfgfile*\]

  Save the option state to *cfgfile*.  The default is the *last* configuration file listed in the **OPTION PRESETS** section, below. The command will exit after updating the config file.

- **-r** *cfgfile*, **--load-opts**=*cfgfile*, **--no-load-opts**

  Load options from *cfgfile*. The *no-load-opts* form will disable the loading of earlier config/rc/ini files.  *--no-load-opts* is handled early, out of order.

- **-v** \[{*v\|c\|n* **--version** \[{*v\|c\|n*}\]}\]

  Output version of program and exit.  The default mode is \`v', a simple version.  The \`c' mode will print copyright information and \`n' will print the full copyright notice.

## OPTION PRESETS

Any option that is not marked as *not presettable* may be preset by loading values from configuration ("RC" or ".INI") file(s). The file "*$HOME/.sharrc*" will be used, if present.

## STANDARDS

This implementation is compliant with P1003.2b/D11.

## FILES

See **OPTION PRESETS** for configuration files.

## EXIT STATUS

One of the following exit values will be returned:

- 0 (EXIT\_SUCCESS)

  Successful program execution.

- 1 (EXIT\_FAILURE)

  The operation failed or the command syntax was not valid.

- 66 (EX\_NOINPUT)

  A specified configuration file could not be loaded.

- 70 (EX\_SOFTWARE)

  libopts had an internal operational error.  Please report it to autogen-users@lists.sourceforge.net.  Thank you.

## SEE ALSO

[uudecode(1)](/uudecode/1.md), [uuencode(5)](/uuencode/5.md)

## HISTORY

The **uuencode** command first appeared in BSD 4.0.

## AUTHORS

Free Software Foundation, Inc.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1994-2015 Free Software Foundation, Inc. all rights reserved. This program is released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later.

## BUGS

Please put **sharutils** in the subject line for emailed bug reports.  It helps to spot the message.

Please send bug reports to: bug-gnu-utils@gnu.org

## NOTES

This manual page was *AutoGen*-erated from the **uuencode** option definitions.