Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode text and files to Base64, or decode Base64 back to text and files — all in your browser. No uploads, no tracking.
Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode text & files to Base64 or decode Base64 back to text/files — all in your browser.
Other Developer Tools
Explore our complete toolkit for developers
Understanding Base64
A quick primer on how Base64 encoding works and where it should (and shouldn't) be used.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding that represents binary data using a 64-character ASCII alphabet. It's commonly used to embed images or transmit binary data in text formats (e.g., JSON, XML, data URLs).
How it Works
Data is processed in 3-byte (24-bit) chunks and mapped to four 6-bit values, each represented by an ASCII character. If the input isn't divisible by 3, padding characters (=) are appended.
Limitations & Security
Base64 is not encryption — it's reversible and should not be used to protect secrets. It increases data size by ~33%. For confidentiality, use proper encryption instead.