Base64 Encoder / Decoder
FreeEncode text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings instantly. Supports text and URLs.
Text → Base64
What is Base64?
Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into a sequence of ASCII characters. The name comes from the 64 printable characters used in the encoding. It is widely used in web development to embed binary data — such as images, fonts, or files — directly into HTML, CSS, or JSON without needing a separate file request.
Common Uses of Base64
- Embedding images in HTML/CSS as data URIs
- Encoding JWT token payloads (Base64Url)
- Passing binary data in JSON API requests
- Encoding email attachments (MIME)
- Storing binary data in text-based config files
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It is commonly used to encode data in URLs, HTTP headers, email attachments, and data URIs.
Is Base64 encryption?
No. Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It does not provide any security. Anyone can decode a Base64 string — it is simply a way to represent binary data as text. Do not use Base64 to protect sensitive data.
Why does Base64 output end with = or ==?
The equals signs (=) are padding characters. Base64 encodes 3 bytes into 4 characters. If the input length is not divisible by 3, one or two padding characters are added to make the output a multiple of 4.
What is URL-safe Base64?
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters, which have special meanings in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces + with - and / with _. This tool uses standard Base64 encoding.
Can I encode non-ASCII characters?
Yes. This tool uses UTF-8 encoding under the hood, so it correctly handles Unicode characters, including emoji and non-Latin scripts.