Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode text to Base64 format
Text to Encode
Base64 Output
Enter text to see the Base64 encoded result
What is Base64?
Base64 is an encoding method that converts binary data to ASCII text format, commonly used for transmitting data over text-based protocols.
URL-Safe Encoding
URL-safe Base64 replaces + with - and / with _ to make the output safe for use in URLs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Base64 encoding used for?
Base64 converts binary data to ASCII text for safe transmission. Common uses: embedding images in CSS/HTML, sending files via JSON APIs, email attachments (MIME), and data URLs.
Why does Base64 increase file size?
Base64 uses 6 bits per character to represent data, compared to 8 bits in binary. This results in approximately 33% size increase, plus potential padding characters.
What's URL-safe Base64?
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters that have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces these with - and _, making encoded strings safe for use in URLs and filenames.