Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings instantly. Fast, private, and works entirely in your browser.
About Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using a set of 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It's commonly used to encode data that needs to be stored or transmitted over media designed to handle text, such as email attachments, data URLs, and JSON web tokens (JWTs).
Our Base64 Encoder/Decoder works entirely in your browser — your data is never sent to any server. Simply paste your text and click "Encode" to get a Base64 string, or paste a Base64 string and click "Decode" to recover the original text. Invalid Base64 input will display a clear error message.
Common uses for Base64 encoding include embedding images in HTML/CSS via data URLs, encoding email attachments in MIME format, storing complex data in cookies or URL parameters, and encoding credentials for HTTP Basic Authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 encoding converts binary or text data into a string of ASCII characters using a 64-character alphabet. Every 3 bytes of input become 4 characters of output, which is why Base64-encoded data is approximately 33% larger than the original. It's not encryption — it's just a representation format.
Q Is Base64 encoding secure?
No, Base64 is not encryption and provides no security. Anyone can easily decode a Base64 string. It's simply a way to represent data in a text-safe format. If you need to protect data, use proper encryption methods instead of Base64 encoding.
Q Why does Base64 increase the size of data?
Base64 encodes 3 bytes of binary data into 4 ASCII characters, which results in approximately 33% size increase. Additionally, padding characters (=) may be added at the end. This overhead is the trade-off for ensuring the encoded data uses only printable, text-safe characters.