Base64 Encode/Decode: Convert Text to Base64 and Back

Base64 encoding transforms binary data or text into a safe, ASCII-only format that can be transmitted over protocols designed for text. Our free Base64 tool lets you encode and decode instantly in your browser—no uploads, no server processing.

How to Use

1. Choose your operation: Select “Encode” to convert text to Base64, or “Decode” to convert Base64 back to readable text.
2. Enter your input: Paste or type your text (for encoding) or Base64 string (for decoding) into the input field.
3. Get instant results: The conversion happens automatically as you type. Copy the output with one click.

The tool handles Unicode characters including emojis, Chinese, Arabic, and all international scripts through UTF-8 encoding.

What is Base64?

Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text using 64 printable characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It increases data size by roughly 33% but ensures compatibility with systems that only handle text, like email protocols, JSON, and XML.

The name “Base64” refers to the 64-character alphabet used for encoding. Padding characters (=) are added to ensure the encoded output length is a multiple of 4.

Common Use Cases

• Data URLs: Embed images and files directly in HTML/CSS using data: URIs
• API Authentication: Encode credentials for HTTP Basic Auth headers
• Email Attachments: MIME uses Base64 to send binary files through email
• JSON/XML Transport: Safely embed binary data in text-based formats
• Storing Binary Data: Save images or files in databases as text fields
• URL-Safe Tokens: Create tokens for password resets and API keys (with Base64URL variant)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Base64 encryption? No. Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode Base64 strings back to the original data. Never use it to protect sensitive information—use proper encryption instead.

Why does my encoded string end with = signs? Padding characters (=) ensure the encoded output length is a multiple of 4. One = means the last group had 2 characters; two = means it had 1 character.

Can I encode emojis and special characters? Yes. Our tool uses UTF-8 encoding first, which converts Unicode characters (including emojis) to bytes, then encodes those bytes to Base64.

What’s the difference between Base64 and Base64URL? Base64URL replaces + with - and / with _ to make encoded strings safe for use in URLs and filenames. Standard Base64 uses characters that need URL encoding.

Does Base64 make data smaller? No—it increases size by approximately 33%. Three bytes become four Base64 characters. Use compression (gzip, brotli) if you need to reduce size.

---

Try our free Base64 Encode/Decode tool now.