binary newsgroup

Any Usenet newsgroup set up for the transmission of picture and other nontext files. The binary newsgroups have their own sub-hierarchy, alt.binaries, and include groups such as alt.binaries.pictures.fine-art.digitized and alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.

Because newsgroups are subject to the same restrictions as Internet e-mail for the transmission of binary files, pictures, programs, and other files posted to these newsgroups are UUencoded and split into sections. To view the pictures, all the parts must be downloaded and then UUdecoded and stitched back together to form the original file, which can then be viewed using the appropriate graphics program.

Other binary newsgroups distribute sound files (alt.binaries.sound.∗) or user-contributed new levels for games such as Doom (alt.binaries.doom). These newsgroups take up a lot of bandwidth and therefore not all sites elect to carry them; blocking software typically bars access to many of these groups.