Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings instantly in your browser. Fast, secure, and 100% client-side execution.
What is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data (or plain text) into a readable ASCII string format. It is commonly used by developers to embed image data in HTML/CSS, securely pass data in URLs, or transfer complex data over text-based protocols like JSON and XML.
Is this encoding secure?
No. Base64 is an encoding algorithm, not an encryption algorithm. It offers no security or confidentiality. Anyone with a Base64 decoder can instantly revert the string back to its original text. Never use Base64 to hide passwords or sensitive data.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a group of binary-to-text encoding schemes that represent binary data in an ASCII string format. The term Base64 originates from a specific MIME content transfer encoding. Each Base64 digit represents exactly 6 bits of data.
It is commonly used when there is a need to encode binary data that needs to be stored and transferred over media that are designed to deal with textual data. This ensures that the data remains intact without modification during transport.
Common Uses of Base64
Data URIs: Base64 is frequently used to embed image data or font files directly into HTML or CSS files. This avoids additional HTTP requests by serving the asset inline.
Email via MIME: Email protocols like SMTP originally only supported 7-bit ASCII characters. Base64 is used to encode email attachments (like PDFs or images) into ASCII text so they can be safely transmitted.
API Authentication: Basic Access Authentication in HTTP requires the username and password to be combined into a string and encoded in Base64 before being sent in the Authorization header.
Base64 is NOT Encryption
A critical security misconception is that Base64 encoding hides or protects data. Base64 is an encoding algorithm, not an encryption algorithm. It uses no secret keys and can be instantly reversed by anyone using a decoder like the one on this page. Never use Base64 to secure sensitive information like passwords or session tokens without proper encryption.