Gif src encoded with base64 after it?

Question

I was asked to work on a website and I see such links. Has anyone seen something like this before? I am wondering why base64 code is needed:

src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAID/AMDAwAAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" 

Answer 1

a hash is the actual gif content encoded with base64

example

Answer 2

Actual data: image / gif; base64, R0lGODlhAQABAID / AMDAwAAAACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw == - in particular, this code is a PLACEHOLDER gif if you uploaded your image, either failed to load, or could not be found ...