How to fix the code for base62 encoding with Python3?

Question

I am creating a python script for base62 encoding. However, for some reason, my code doesn't produce the correct answer. Correct answer is LpuPe81bc2w, but i get LpuPe81bc0w. If you can review my code and see if I can do any different. Please let me know. I can't use pybase62.

I really want to know why my code doesn't work because I want to understand fundamental. Preferably

NO PyBASE62 and I am a beginner.

base_62 = "0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
BASE = len(base_62)

def to_base_62(number):  
 rete=''
 while number != 0:    
  rete = (base_62[number%BASE])+rete  
  number = int(number/BASE)
 return rete

print (to_base_62(18327995462734721974))

first use `number//BASE` instead of converting to int. Use integer division.. — Jean-François Fabre, Oct 07 '19 at 21:41

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 07 '19 at 21:42

You ran afoul of floating-point accuracy. I inserted a simple tracking statement into your code:

def to_base_62(number):  
    rete=''
    while number != 0: 
        rete = base_62[number%BASE]+rete    
        print(len(rete), number/BASE)
        number = int(number/BASE)
    return rete

Output:

1 2.956128300441084e+17
2 4767948871679168.0
3 76902401156115.61
4 1240361308969.5967
5 20005827564.01613
6 322674638.12903225
7 5204429.645161291
8 83942.40322580645
9 1353.9032258064517
10 21.822580645161292
11 0.3387096774193548
LpuPe81bc0w

The floating-point division doesn't keep enough digits to differentiate the ones you need for a number this large. Instead, use integer division:

while number != 0: 
    rete = base_62[number%BASE]+rete    
    print(len(rete), number // BASE)
    number = number // BASE

Output:

1 295612830044108418
2 4767948871679168
3 76902401156115
4 1240361308969
5 20005827564
6 322674638
7 5204429
8 83942
9 1353
10 21
11 0
LpuPe81bc2w

Of course; I felt that the "standard" presentation might not yet be in OP's programming vocabulary. — Prune, Oct 07 '19 at 21:47

How to fix the code for base62 encoding with Python3?

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