How to Save a Base64-Encoded PDF File in Python

Learn how to properly save a base64-encoded PDF file received via HTTP requests in Python. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to handle and decode the data for accurate file saving.
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Saving a Base64-Encoded PDF in Python: A Complete Guide

Receiving PDFs over HTTP requests is common when working with APIs, but it can get tricky when the document comes in a base64-encoded format. If you’ve tried saving such a PDF and ended up with a corrupted file, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll delve into the problem and show you how to properly save a base64-encoded PDF file in Python.

Understanding the Problem

When you make an HTTP request to fetch a PDF document, the data can sometimes be sent in a base64-encoded format nested within a JSON response. Here’s the usual flow when you try to save the received PDF directly:

You make a request and receive a response containing a base64 string.

Attempting to save this string directly usually leads to a corrupted PDF file.

In essence, you need to decode the base64 string back into binary data before saving it. Let's break down how to do this in a structured manner.

Step-by-Step Solution

Follow these simple steps to correctly save a base64-encoded PDF file in Python:

Step 1: Make the HTTP Request

For demonstration purposes, let’s assume you have the following request implementation using requests library:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Extract the Base64 String

After receiving the response, you need to extract the data attribute from the JSON response. Here’s how you can do that:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Decode the Base64 String

Now that you have the base64 string, use Python’s base64 library to decode it back into binary format:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Save the Decoded Data as a PDF

Finally, save the decoded data to a file with a .pdf extension. It's essential to open the file in binary write mode ('wb'). Here’s the complete saving process:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 5: (Optional) Closing Files in Python

A side note: when you use the with open(...) syntax, you don't need to explicitly close the file. Python automatically takes care of closing the file when you exit the with block.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can accurately save a base64-encoded PDF file received through an HTTP request without corruption. The key takeaway is to decode the base64 string before writing it to a file. This simple adjustment can save you hours of troubleshooting and frustration.

Now you should be well-equipped to handle base64 PDF data in Python. Happy coding!