Base64 Encode & Decode
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 to text instantly.
Encode a File to Base64
Drag & drop a file here, or click to select
What Is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text characters. It is commonly used to embed binary data in text-based formats like JSON, XML, HTML, and email (MIME). The encoding uses a 64-character alphabet of letters, digits, plus, and slash, producing output that is about 33% larger than the input.
How Do I Encode or Decode Base64 Strings?
Paste your text into the input area and click Encode to convert it to Base64, or paste a Base64 string and click Decode to reveal the original text. The tool handles UTF-8 text correctly, including special characters and emoji. Copy the result with one click.
When Is Base64 Encoding Used in Practice?
Base64 appears frequently in web development: data URIs for inline images, HTTP Basic Authentication headers, email attachments (MIME encoding), storing binary data in JSON or XML, and encoding cryptographic keys and certificates. Understanding Base64 is essential for debugging these systems.
Is There a Size Limit for Encoding?
This tool has no hard limit for text input. However, very large inputs may slow down the browser because Base64 encoding increases the data size by approximately 33%. For most practical purposes — encoding API payloads, images, certificates, and configuration strings — the tool handles everything instantly.
What Are URL-Safe Base64 and Standard Base64?
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters, which have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces these with - and _ respectively, making the output safe for use in URL parameters and file names. This tool uses standard Base64 by default. If you need URL-safe encoding, replace + with - and / with _ in the output, or remove the trailing = padding characters.