Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings. The most common encoding for data transmission.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in 64 printable ASCII characters.
- • Uses A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /
- • Padding with = signs when needed
- • 33% larger than original data
- • Standard for email attachments (MIME)
Common Uses
- • Email: Attachments in MIME format
- • Web: Data URLs for images/fonts
- • APIs: Binary data in JSON
- • Authentication: Basic auth headers
Tips
- • Base64 is NOT encryption - it's just encoding
- • Perfect for embedding small images in CSS/HTML
- • Supports Unicode text through UTF-8 encoding
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding and how does it work?
Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text format using 64 different characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It's commonly used to encode binary data for transmission over text-based protocols like email, JSON, or XML. Each 3 bytes of input is converted to 4 Base64 characters, making the output about 33% larger than the original.
Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?
No, Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It's easily reversible without any key or password. Anyone can decode Base64 data instantly. Never use Base64 to protect sensitive information. For security, use proper encryption algorithms like AES. Base64 is designed for data transport and compatibility, not security or obfuscation.
What are common uses for Base64 encoding?
Base64 is widely used for embedding images in HTML/CSS (data URIs), encoding email attachments (MIME), transmitting binary data in JSON/XML APIs, storing binary data in databases, encoding authentication tokens, and handling file uploads in web applications. It ensures binary data can be safely transmitted through systems that only support text characters.
Can Base64 encode and decode images and files?
Yes! This tool can encode files and images to Base64 format. Simply upload your file, and it will be converted to a Base64 string. This is useful for creating data URIs for inline images in CSS/HTML, transmitting images through JSON APIs, or storing images in databases. Remember that Base64 increases file size by approximately 33%.
Why does Base64 encoded data have = symbols at the end?
The equals signs (=) are padding characters used when the input length isn't divisible by 3. Base64 works on 3-byte blocks, so padding ensures the output is always a multiple of 4 characters. You might see one or two = symbols at the end. This padding is standard and required for proper decoding of the Base64 data.
Does Base64 encoding work with Unicode and special characters?
Yes, this Base64 tool properly handles Unicode characters, emojis, and special characters through UTF-8 encoding. The text is first converted to UTF-8 bytes, then encoded to Base64. This ensures international characters, symbols, and emojis are correctly preserved during encoding and decoding processes.