What is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 converts binary data or text into a string of ASCII characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /) so it can pass through systems that only handle text. It is not encryption — anyone can decode it.
Common uses: embedding small images in HTML or CSS as data URLs; sending binary data inside JSON or XML APIs; MIME email attachments; avoiding characters that break parsers. Base64 grows size by about 33% — use it for compatibility, not to shrink files.
How to Use This Base64 Tool
To encode: choose Encode, paste plain text, copy the Base64 output.
To decode: choose Decode, paste a Base64 string, read the plain text. Invalid Base64 shows an error.
All processing runs in your browser — no data is sent to our servers.
Features
- Encode text to Base64 and decode back to text
- Instant results in the browser
- Copy output in one click
- No signup; private local processing
Frequently asked questions
Is Base64 the same as encryption?
No. Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone with a decoder can reverse it. Do not use Base64 to protect secrets.
Why does Base64 end with = or ==?
That is padding so the encoded length is a multiple of four characters.
Can I Base64 encode an image?
This tool is for text strings. For images as data URLs, use our Image to Base64 Converter.
Is Base64 the same as URL encoding?
No. Base64 uses + and / which are not URL-safe. For query parameters, use our URL Encoder.