Encode and decode Base64 text, files, and URLs instantly. Secure, fast, and completely free browser-based tool with no data logging.
Enter your text or upload a file. Base64 can encode any type of binary data.
Data is converted to Base64 using a 64-character alphabet (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /).
Get URL-safe, printable text that can be transmitted over text-based protocols.
Learn everything you need to know about Base64 encoding and its practical applications
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into a string of ASCII characters. It's commonly used for encoding binary data in email attachments, data URLs, and API responses.
Base64 is widely used for embedding images in CSS/HTML, encoding authentication tokens, storing binary data in JSON, and transmitting files over text-based protocols like HTTP and SMTP.
URL-safe Base64 replaces '+' and '/' characters with '-' and '_' respectively, making it safe for use in URLs and filenames without requiring percent-encoding.
Base64 is not encryption - it's encoding. Anyone can decode Base64 text. Never use Base64 alone to protect sensitive information. Use proper encryption methods for security.
Compare Base64 with hex encoding, URL encoding, and other binary-to-text schemes. Learn when to use each encoding method for optimal performance and compatibility.
Learn performance optimization tips, proper padding handling, character set considerations, and common pitfalls to avoid when working with Base64 encoding in production.
No, Base64 is not encryption. It's easily reversible and should not be used to protect sensitive data. Use proper encryption methods for security.
Base64 encoding increases the size by approximately 33% because it uses 4 characters to represent every 3 bytes of original data.
Yes, Base64 can encode any binary data including images, documents, executables, and more. The encoded result will always be text.
Yes, all processing happens locally in your browser. Your data is not sent to any server or stored anywhere.