Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to text. Supports UTF-8 characters including emojis.
About Base64 Encoding
Base64 is a group of binary-to-text encoding schemes that represent binary data in an ASCII string format. It's designed to carry data stored in binary formats across channels that only reliably support text content.
How It Works
Base64 encoding takes three bytes of data (24 bits) and represents them as four ASCII characters (6 bits each). The output uses 64 characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /. The = character is used for padding when the input length is not divisible by 3.
URL-safe Base64
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters which have special meanings in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces these with - and _ respectively, making it safe for use in URLs, cookies, and filenames. This tool can output URL-safe Base64 and automatically decodes both formats.
Common Use Cases
- Embedding images in HTML/CSS (data URIs)
- Encoding email attachments (MIME)
- Storing binary data in JSON or XML
- Encoding data in URLs (with URL-safe Base64)
- Authentication tokens and API keys
Privacy
All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your text never leaves your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Base64 encoding and decoding
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data as a string of ASCII characters. It uses 64 printable characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) to represent data, with = used for padding.
Why use Base64 encoding?
Base64 is commonly used to safely transmit binary data over text-based protocols like email (MIME) or to embed images in HTML/CSS. It ensures data remains intact during transmission without modification.
What is URL-safe Base64?
URL-safe Base64 replaces + with - and / with _ to avoid issues when using Base64 in URLs. Standard Base64 characters + and / have special meanings in URLs and can cause problems.
Does this tool support special characters and emojis?
Yes! This tool uses UTF-8 encoding, which means it correctly handles special characters, accented letters, and emojis. The encoded output will properly decode back to the original text.
Is my data secure?
Absolutely. All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your text never leaves your device.