Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to readable text. Essential tool for developers working with data encoding and web protocols.

Base64 Encoder

Characters: 0Bytes: 0
Characters: 0

Base64 Examples

Encoding Examples

Input:
Hello World!
Output:
SGVsbG8gV29ybGQh
Input:
user:password
Output:
dXNlcjpwYXNzd29yZA==

Common Use Cases

  • HTTP Basic Authentication headers
  • Email attachments (MIME encoding)
  • Data URLs (images, fonts)
  • JSON Web Tokens (JWT)
  • Binary data transmission

Important Notes

  • • Base64 encoding increases data size by ~33%
  • • Not suitable for encryption (encoding ≠ encryption)
  • • Commonly used for safe text transmission of binary data
  • • Padding characters (=) may appear at the end

About Base64 Encoding

What is Base64?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in sequences of 24 bits that can be represented by four 6-bit Base64 digits. It's commonly used when there's a need to transmit binary data over channels that are designed to handle textual data.

The encoding uses 64 different ASCII characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /.

Why Use Base64?

Base64 encoding ensures that binary data remains intact during transport across systems that might not handle raw binary data correctly. It's particularly useful for:

  • • Email attachments (MIME encoding)
  • • Data URLs in web pages
  • • HTTP Basic Authentication
  • • JSON data transmission

Security & Privacy

Client-Side Processing

All encoding and decoding is performed entirely in your browser. Your data never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy and security.

Not Encryption

Important: Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It's easily reversible and should not be used to hide sensitive information. Use proper encryption methods for security purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Base64 encoding and how does it work?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text using 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It represents every 3 bytes of data with 4 printable characters, making binary data safe for transmission over text-based protocols like email or HTTP.
Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?
No, Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It's easily reversible by anyone and provides no security. Base64 is designed for data transmission compatibility, not protection. Never use Base64 to hide sensitive information - use proper encryption methods instead.
When should I use Base64 encoding?
Use Base64 for email attachments, embedding images in HTML/CSS (data URLs), HTTP Basic Authentication, storing binary data in JSON, API data transmission, and when transmitting binary data over text-only channels that might corrupt binary content.
Does Base64 increase file size?
Yes, Base64 encoding increases size by approximately 33%. This is because every 3 bytes of original data becomes 4 bytes in Base64. However, this overhead is acceptable for ensuring data integrity during transmission over text-based systems.
Can I encode any type of data with Base64?
Yes, Base64 can encode any binary data including text, images, documents, executables, and any other file type. It treats all data as binary and converts it to a text representation. Both our encoder and decoder handle any data type seamlessly.
Is it safe to use this tool with sensitive data?
Yes, from a privacy standpoint. All processing happens locally in your browser - data never leaves your device. However, remember that Base64 provides no security protection. Anyone can decode Base64, so don't use it for confidential information without additional encryption.