Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode or decode Base64 safely in the browser.
Use this free online Base64 encoder and decoder to convert text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings instantly. Base64 encoding is commonly used to transmit binary data safely over text-based protocols. All processing happens locally in your browser, so your data is never uploaded or stored.
About this tool
Fast Base64 Encoding and Decoding
Encode plain text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings back to readable text in a single click.
- Handles UTF-8 text safely (emojis, international characters)
- Great for debugging basic auth headers
- No data leaves your device
- Instant encoding and decoding results
Practical Uses for Base64
Base64 appears everywhere in web development. Use this tool to inspect or generate encoded values for various protocols.
- Decode 'Basic' authentication headers
- Encode JSON payloads for URLs
- Inspect data URIs
How to Use Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Choose Mode
Toggle between 'Encode' (Text → Base64) and 'Decode' (Base64 → Text) using the switch at the top.
Enter Data
Type or paste your content into the input area. The tool processes it instantly.
Use the Output
Click 'Copy' to grab the result. If decoding fails, check for invalid characters or whitespace.
Common questions
Is Base64 encryption?
No. Base64 is not encryption. It is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into text format. Anyone can decode Base64 without a secret key.
What is Base64 used for?
Base64 is commonly used to transmit binary data over text-based protocols such as email, HTTP, and JSON APIs. It is often used in authentication headers, data URIs, and token encoding.
Why does decoding return garbage text?
This usually happens if you try to decode binary data (like an image) as text. Base64 can represent files, but this tool currently optimizes for text output.
What is the '=' at the end?
The equals sign is padding. Base64 strings must have a length divisible by 4, so '=' is added to fill the gap.
Is this URL safe?
Standard Base64 uses '+' and '/', which aren't URL-safe. For URLs, you typically replace them with '-' and '_' (Base64Url).
Does this handle emojis?
Yes. We properly handle UTF-8 encoding, so emojis and non-Latin characters are encoded/decoded correctly.
Can I convert images to Base64?
For images or large binary files, a dedicated image-to-Base64 converter is recommended, as very large inputs may slow down the browser.
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