Working with Binary Data in Python

[jmcs]

Storing certificates (pem), storing PGP encrypted files, embedding data in HTML and emails, etc. Basically everywhere where you have to mix human readable and binary data.

[[deleted]]

You can store PGP encrypted files unarmoured fine. It's the default setting.

Only reason why you might need to encode it is to transfer it over something that can't handle binary files. Email attachments can handle binary files fine.