Base64 Is Fast Now, Actually

This article investigates the fastest method for encoding binary data into a text stream for embedding in JSON, comparing native base64, UTF-16 string conversion, number arrays, and classic atob/btoa. The author proposes reinterpreting a Uint8Array as Uint16Array and decoding it as a UTF-16 string, then testing on audio files (~1.4MB and ~600KB). Results show native base64 is fastest, but UTF-16 encoding is close behind, though it results in larger output (154-173% of original size). The post includes code snippets, performance tables, and analysis of trade-offs, relevant to developers working with binary data in web or Node.js contexts.