Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Paste text to encode, or Base64 to decode. Everything runs in your browser.
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding format that converts raw bytes into a limited set of 64 printable ASCII characters. The output is safe to move through systems that were designed for text, which is why Base64 appears so often in APIs, email protocols, configuration files, and embedded assets.
It does not compress or encrypt data. It simply transforms bytes into text and back again. That makes it useful for transport compatibility, but it also means the encoded output is usually about one third larger than the original content.
Common Base64 use cases
Base64 shows up anywhere binary data needs to survive a text-only channel. Developers most often encounter it in authentication headers, JSON payloads, asset inlining, and infrastructure configuration.
Inline small images, fonts, or SVG files directly in HTML and CSS using `data:` URLs.
Send certificates, attachments, or binary blobs through JSON APIs without breaking parsers.
Represent opaque values in `.env` files, Kubernetes manifests, and CI variables.
Encode attachments and message parts for MIME and other systems built around plain text transport.
Base64 vs URL encoding
Base64 and URL encoding solve different problems. Base64 converts arbitrary binary data into text. URL encoding escapes reserved characters inside a URL so the browser and server interpret the address correctly.
- • You need to represent binary bytes as text
- • You are embedding files or blobs in JSON, HTML, or CSS
- • You are moving data through systems that reject raw binary
- • You are building query strings or path segments
- • You need spaces, ampersands, slashes, or unicode to survive in a URL
- • You want browsers and servers to parse an address correctly
Is Base64 secure?
No. Base64 is not encryption and it is not hashing. Anyone can decode it instantly with the right tool, including the one on this page. If you store credentials, private keys, or personal data in Base64, treat it exactly as you would the original plaintext because the secrecy level is the same.