Base64 Converter
Free online Base64 encoder and decoder. Instantly encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to plain text. All processing happens locally in your browser.
How to Use Base64 Converter
Enter Your Data
Type or paste your text into the input panel. You can enter plain text to encode, or Base64-encoded text to decode.
Choose Direction
Click "Encode" to convert text to Base64, or "Decode" to convert Base64 back to readable text.
Get the Result
The converted output appears instantly in the right panel. All processing is done locally in your browser.
Copy and Use
Click the Copy button to copy the result to your clipboard. Paste it wherever you need it.
Examples
Before (Plain Text)
Hello, World! 👋After (Base64 Encoded)
SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkISDwn5GLFrequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data as ASCII text. It uses 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) to encode any data. It's commonly used for transmitting data over text-based protocols like email (MIME), embedding images in HTML/CSS, and storing binary data in JSON.
Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?
No! Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It provides no security — anyone can decode Base64 data back to its original form. Think of it like translating text to a different alphabet, not locking it with a key. If you need to protect data, use proper encryption like AES.
When should I use Base64 encoding?
Base64 is useful when you need to transmit binary data through text-only channels. Common use cases include embedding images as data URIs in HTML/CSS, sending file attachments via email, storing binary data in JSON payloads, and encoding API credentials for Basic Authentication.
Can I encode files like images or PDFs to Base64?
Yes, any binary data can be Base64 encoded. However, Base64 encoding increases the data size by about 33%. For very large files, this overhead can be significant. Our tool is optimized for text conversion — for large files, consider using a dedicated file-to-Base64 tool.
Understanding Base64 Encoding
Base64 encoding converts binary data into a set of 64 printable ASCII characters. Every 3 bytes (24 bits) of input are split into 4 groups of 6 bits, each mapped to one of 64 characters: uppercase letters A-Z, lowercase letters a-z, digits 0-9, and symbols + and /. The = character is used for padding when the input length is not a multiple of 3.
Common Use Cases
- Data URIs: embedding images directly in HTML/CSS
- Email attachments (MIME encoding)
- HTTP Basic Authentication headers
- Storing binary data in JSON or XML
- Encoding API keys and tokens for transmission