[Python-Dev] Why does base64 return bytes?

[Joao S. O. Bueno]

On 14 June 2016 at 12:19, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> wrote:
> Is there
> a good reason for returning bytes?

What about: it returns 0-255 numeric values for each position in  a stream, with
no clue whatsoever to how those values map to text characters beyond
the 32-128 range?

Maybe base64.decode could take a "encoding" optional parameter - or
there could  be
a separate 'decote_to_text" method that would explicitly take a text codec name.
Otherwise, no, you simply can't take a bunch of bytes and say they
represent text.

João

(see ^- the "ã" ?)