---
id: python-baseconv
version: "1.2.2"
license: Python Software Foundation License
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# python-baseconv — Convert numbers from base 10 integers to base X strings and back again.

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 684.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

baseconv is a lightweight utility for converting numbers between base 10 and arbitrary other bases. It provides pre-built converters for common bases (binary, hexadecimal, base36, base58, base62, base64) and a BaseConverter class that lets you define custom alphabets for encoding and decoding. The package has no runtime dependencies and works by treating numbers as strings in the target base, supporting both positive and negative integers with customizable sign characters.

The package is mature and stable—it was last updated in 2019 and has been in production use for years—but is no longer actively maintained. The repository is archived and there have been no commits since 2020. It remains useful for straightforward base-conversion tasks in applications that do not require ongoing updates or support.

Use it for:

- Encode large integers into shorter, human-readable strings using base58 or base62 for URL slugs or identifiers
- Convert binary or hexadecimal representations for low-level data processing or debugging
- Create custom number encodings with a specific alphabet for domain-specific applications
- Decode base64-encoded numbers in legacy systems or protocols that use non-standard base representations

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Converts integers to and from strings in arbitrary bases (binary, hex, base36, base58, base62, base64, or custom alphabets) and back again.

Yes, if you need straightforward base conversion and can accept no future maintenance. The package is stable, has no known vulnerabilities, and carries no dependencies. Install it only if your use case is simple and unlikely to require updates; avoid it if you need active support or compatibility assurance with future Python versions.

## Install

pip install python-baseconv
uv add python-baseconv
poetry add python-baseconv

## Installing python-baseconv

Before you install: High install friction: the package is abandoned (last commit 2020-03-02, repository archived), with no runtime dependencies but no active maintenance. It has been stable for years and carries no known vulnerabilities, but you will receive no updates or support if issues arise.

License in practice: Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive), which permits use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions. No GPL code is included.

Quickstart:

pip install python-baseconv

from baseconv import base2, base16, base36, base58, base62, base64
base2.encode(1234)
# Returns: '10011010010'
base16.decode('4d2')
# Returns: '1234'

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works correctly with modern Python 3 versions beyond those tested at release
- Whether custom BaseConverter instances handle edge cases in all modern Python environments

## Package facts

- License: Python Software Foundation License (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 684.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

base conversion, number base encoder decoder, binary hex base64 convert, custom alphabet number encoding, base X string conversion, number-encoding, base-conversion

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