How to properly encode string based on json file?

I have the following basic.json file:

{
	"user": "user",
	"pass": "password"
}

I'm trying to encode it in base64 like this:

"Basic dXNlcjpwYXNzd29yZA=="

I think I'm close:

echo Basic $(echo $(cat basic.json | jq '.user'):$(cat basic.json | jq '.pass') | base64)

I've used the [jq access method found here](https://shapeshed.com/jq-json/#how-to-find-a-key-and-value) . I've used the [base64 method found here](https://linuxhint.com/bash_base64_encode_decode/) . But the result is wrong:

Basic InVzZXIiOiJwYXNzd29yZCIK

I've tried the -e flag as mentioned in the article:

echo Basic $(echo $(cat basic.json | jq '.user'):$(cat basic.json | jq '.pass') | base64 -e)

But it throws this error: > base64: invalid option -- 'e' Where did I mistake? Thanks in advance. --- **My solution** The command ended this way: RUN echo "map \"\" \$basicAuth {\n\ \tdefault $(jq '"Basic " + ("\(.user):\(.pass)" | @base64)' basic.json);\n\ }" > basic.conf And my basic.conf file finally have the correct basic auth:

map "" $basicAuth {
	default "Basic dXNlcjpwYXNzd29yZA==";
}

Thank you all