WebToolsArea

Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Encode text to Base64 and decode Base64 back to text. Supports file encoding, URL-safe encoding, and handles both text and binary data.

Input
Text

12 characters

Output
Base64

0 characters

Quick Examples

How to Use the Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Text Encoding

  • • Enter text in the input field
  • • Auto-detection recognizes Base64 format
  • • Switch between encode/decode modes
  • • Enable URL-safe for web applications
  • • Copy or download results instantly

File Encoding

  • • Upload files up to 5MB
  • • Automatic Base64 encoding
  • • View file information and size
  • • Generate data URLs for images
  • • Download encoded results

Advanced Features

  • • History tracking for recent operations
  • • Error handling with helpful messages
  • • Character count and size analysis
  • • UTF-8 text encoding support
  • • Privacy-focused local processing

Understanding Base64 Encoding

What is Base64?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text. It uses 64 printable characters to represent binary data, making it safe for transmission over text-based protocols.

The 64 characters used are: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, + and /, with = used for padding.

Why Use Base64?

Base64 encoding is essential when you need to store or transmit binary data over systems designed for text. It ensures data integrity and prevents corruption during transmission.

Common uses include email attachments, data URLs, API tokens, and embedding images in HTML/CSS.

Base64 Encoder Features

Text Encoding

Convert any text string to Base64 format for safe transmission and storage.

File Encoding

Upload files and convert them to Base64 for embedding or data transmission.

URL-Safe Option

Generate URL-safe Base64 that replaces + and / with - and _ for web usage.

Real-time Conversion

See instant results as you type, with automatic detection of input format.

Error Handling

Comprehensive error detection for invalid Base64 input with helpful feedback.

Copy & Download

Easy copy-to-clipboard and download options for encoded/decoded results.

Common Use Cases

Web Development

  • • Embedding images in CSS/HTML (data URLs)
  • • Storing binary data in JSON
  • • API authentication tokens
  • • Client-side file processing
  • • Local storage of binary data
  • • AJAX file uploads

Data Transmission

  • • Email attachments (MIME encoding)
  • • XML and JSON data embedding
  • • Database BLOB storage
  • • Configuration file encoding
  • • Network protocol data
  • • Cross-platform data exchange

Base64 Character Set

ValueCharacterValueCharacterValueCharacterValueCharacter
0-25A-Z26-51a-z52-610-962-63+ /

Padding: = (equals sign) is used for padding when needed
URL-Safe: Replaces + with - and / with _ for web-safe encoding

Encoding Examples

Text Encoding Examples

Text: "Hello World"
Base64: SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=
Text: "WebToolsArea"
Base64: TXlEYWlseVRvb2xz
Text: "user:password"
Base64: dXNlcjpwYXNzd29yZA==

Technical Details

How Base64 Works

  • • Takes 3 bytes (24 bits) of input data
  • • Splits into 4 groups of 6 bits each
  • • Maps each 6-bit group to a Base64 character
  • • Adds padding (=) if input isn't multiple of 3 bytes
  • • Output is always multiple of 4 characters
  • • Increases data size by approximately 33%

Best Practices

  • • Use URL-safe Base64 for web applications
  • • Validate Base64 input before decoding
  • • Handle padding correctly (= characters)
  • • Consider data size increase (33% larger)
  • • Use for text-safe binary transmission only
  • • Not suitable for large files in web browsers

Privacy & Security

All Base64 encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to external servers or stored online. However, remember that Base64 is an encoding method, not encryption - it doesn't provide security or hide data. Anyone can easily decode Base64 text, so never use it to store sensitive information like passwords or secret keys.