Base64 Encode/Decode Tool
Free online tool to encode text or files to Base64 format and decode Base64 back to original text. Fast, secure, and easy to use.
About Base64 Encoding/Decoding
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used when there is a need to encode binary data that needs to be stored and transferred over media designed to deal with text.
Common Use Cases for Base64
Data URLs
Embed images or other binary data directly in HTML or CSS files using Base64 encoded data URLs.
Email Attachments
Email systems use Base64 to encode binary attachments for transmission over SMTP.
API Authentication
Basic authentication headers often use Base64 encoded username:password combinations.
Storing Binary Data
Databases or systems that only accept text can store binary data as Base64 strings.
How to Use This Base64 Tool
- For text: Select the "Text" tab, enter your text, and click "Encode to Base64" or "Decode from Base64"
- For files: Select the "File" tab, upload your file, and click "Encode File to Base64"
- Copy the result using the "Copy to Clipboard" button
- Use the "Clear" buttons to start over
Technical Details
Base64 encoding works by dividing the input bytes into groups of 3 bytes (24 bits) and representing each group as 4 printable characters from the Base64 alphabet. The Base64 alphabet consists of A-Z, a-z, 0-9, '+', '/' and '=' for padding.
This encoding increases the size of the data by approximately 33% compared to the original binary data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Base64 is commonly used to encode binary data (like images or files) into ASCII characters for safe transport over systems designed to handle text, such as email or JSON APIs. It ensures that the data remains intact without modification during transport.
Base64 is not encryption and provides no security. It's simply an encoding scheme that makes binary data safe to transmit through text-based systems. Anyone can decode Base64 data back to its original form.
Our tool currently supports files up to 10MB in size. For larger files, consider using desktop software or command-line tools.
No, all processing happens in your browser. We never send your files or text to our servers, ensuring complete privacy for your data.
The equals signs (=) at the end of a Base64 string are padding characters. They ensure the length of the encoded string is a multiple of 4, which is required by the Base64 format.