Dev Tools/Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 to text
Input
Output
Result will appear here...Options
Base64 Encoding Guide
Learn how to use Base64 encoding and decoding effectively
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used to encode binary data for transmission over text-based protocols like email or to embed binary data in JSON, XML, or HTML.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter text or a Base64 string in the input field
- Click 'Encode' to convert text to Base64
- Click 'Decode' to convert Base64 back to text
- Copy the result using the copy button
Pro Tips
- Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33%
- Use the swap button to quickly reverse encode/decode operations
- Base64 is not encryption - it's encoding and can be easily decoded
Browser Support
Base64 encoding/decoding is supported in all modern browsers using the built-in btoa() and atob() functions. This tool also handles UTF-8 characters properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 used for?
Base64 is commonly used to encode binary data for transmission in text-based systems like email (MIME), embedding images in HTML/CSS (data URIs), storing binary data in JSON/XML, and encoding authentication credentials in HTTP Basic Auth headers.
Is Base64 encryption?
No, Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It provides no security - anyone can decode Base64 strings easily. Never use Base64 to protect sensitive data. Use proper encryption algorithms like AES for security.
Why does Base64 make data larger?
Base64 represents binary data using only 64 ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). This means 3 bytes of binary data become 4 characters in Base64, resulting in approximately 33% size increase plus potential padding.
What are the '=' signs at the end of Base64 strings?
The '=' characters are padding to ensure the output length is a multiple of 4 characters. One '=' means the last group had 2 bytes, two '==' means it had 1 byte. Some Base64 variants omit this padding.
Why am I getting an error when decoding?
The most common cause is invalid characters in the input. Standard Base64 only uses A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /, and =. Check for accidental whitespace, line breaks, or characters from URL-safe Base64 variants (which use - and _ instead of + and /).