[Python-Dev] Why does base64 return bytes?

[Paul Sokolovsky]

Hello,

On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 18:13:11 +0000
Daniel Holth <dholth at gmail.com> wrote:

> IMO this is more a philosophical problem than a programming problem.
> base64 has a dual-nature. It is both text and bytes. At least it
> should fit in a 1-byte-per-character efficient Python 3 unicode
> string also.

You probably mean "CPython3 1-byte-per-character "efficient" string".
But CPython3 is merely one of half-dozen Python3 language
implementations. Yup, a special one, but hopefully it's special in a
respect that it doesn't abuse its powers to make language API *changes*
based on its own implementation details. API changes, because API
*decisions* have been done long ago already.


-- 
Best regards,
 Paul                          mailto:pmiscml at gmail.com