PEM (Privacy-Enhanced Mail)

PEM (Privacy-Enhanced Mail) is a standard format used to securely encode and transmit cryptographic data, like digital certificates and encrypted messages. It converts binary data into a text format using base64 encoding, making it easy to include in emails and documents. PEM files typically contain information like SSL/TLS certificates, private keys, or public keys, all wrapped with specific header and footer lines (e.g., "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----"). This format ensures the data remains intact and secure during sharing, facilitating safe communication and authentication over digital networks.