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Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text format. It's commonly used to encode data that needs to be transmitted over text-based protocols like email, HTTP, or stored in JSON and XML files. Base64 encoding ensures that binary data remains intact without modification during transport.
Base64 encoding is essential in web development and data transmission:
Our Base64 tool makes encoding and decoding simple:
Original Text:
Hello, World!
Base64 Encoded:
SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==
Original Text:
user@example.com:mypassword
Base64 Encoded:
dXNlckBleGFtcGxlLmNvbTpteXBhc3N3b3Jk
Used in HTTP Header:
Authorization: Basic dXNlckBleGFtcGxlLmNvbTpteXBhc3N3b3Jk
Base64 Encoded Image (small PNG):
data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUA...
This can be used directly in HTML <img> tags or CSS backgrounds.
Base64 uses 64 characters to represent binary data:
| Encoding | Characters | Use Case | Size Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base64 | A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, / | General purpose, email, APIs | ~33% |
| Base64 URL-Safe | A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _ | URL parameters, filenames | ~33% |
| Hex (Base16) | 0-9, A-F | Hashes, colors, debugging | 100% |
| ASCII | 0-127 | Plain text only | 0% |
No! Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It transforms data format but provides zero security. Anyone can decode Base64 instantly. Never use Base64 alone to protect sensitive data. For security, use proper encryption (AES, RSA) before Base64 encoding.
Developers use Base64 encoding in various scenarios:
background: url(data:image/png;base64,...);<img src="data:image/png;base64,..." />btoa() encodes, atob() decodesBuffer.from(str).toString('base64')All Base64 encoding and decoding happens directly in your browser. Your data never leaves your device and is not stored on any server, ensuring complete privacy and security. This tool works entirely offline after the page loads.
Convert plain text to Base64 format instantly with proper padding.
Decode Base64 strings back to readable text with validation.
Upload files and encode them to Base64 for embedding or transmission.
Real-time encoding and decoding as you type or upload files.
Base64 is used to encode binary data into ASCII text format for transmission over text-based protocols like email (MIME), HTTP, JSON, and XML. It's commonly used for embedding images in HTML/CSS, API authentication, and storing binary data in text fields.
No, Base64 is not a security or encryption method. It's an encoding scheme that makes data format-compatible but provides no confidentiality. Anyone can decode Base64 data instantly. Use proper encryption (AES, RSA) if security is needed.
Base64 encoding increases file size by approximately 33% because it represents 3 bytes of binary data using 4 ASCII characters. This overhead is the trade-off for making binary data text-compatible.
Yes, you can decode Base64 using built-in browser JavaScript (atob() function) or command-line tools like base64 -d in Linux/Mac. However, online tools like ours provide a more user-friendly interface.
The "=" character is padding added at the end of Base64 strings to make the length a multiple of 4. It indicates how many bytes were in the original data. One "=" means the last group had 2 bytes, two "==" means it had 1 byte.