Base64 converter

Convert text to Base64 encoding or decode Base64 strings back to readable text with our free online Base64 converter. This tool supports both encoding and decoding operations instantly without requiring any software installation.

What is Base64 Encoding?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It is commonly used in web development, email systems, and data transmission to encode binary data that needs to be stored or transmitted over media designed for text.

Key Features

Free to Use:

No registration or payment required

Instant results:

Real-time encoding and decoding

Secure Processing:

All conversions happen in your browser

No File Upload:

Simply paste your text directly

Mobile friendly:

Works on all devices and browsers

Unlimited usage:

No limits on conversion frequency

Common Use Cases:

Email Attachments:

Encoding binary files for email transmission

Web Development:

Embedding images directly in CSS or HTML

Data URLs:

Creating data URIs for web applications

API Integration:

Encoding credentials or data for API requests

How to Use the Base64 Converter

Enter Your Content:

Paste your text or Base64 string in the content box

Select Operation:

Choose "Encode" to convert text to Base64, or "Decode" to convert Base64 back to text

Convert

Click the "Convert" button to perform the transformation

Copy Results:

Copy the converted output for use in your projects

Technical Information

Technical

Base64 encoding uses a 64-character alphabet (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) to represent binary data. Every 3 bytes of input data are encoded into 4 Base64 characters. If the input length is not divisible by 3, padding characters (=) are added.

Character Set:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Base64 encoding secure ?

Base64 is an encoding method, not encryption. It is designed for data transmission and storage, not security. Anyone can easily decode Base64 strings, so do not use it to hide sensitive information.

What's the difference between encoding and encryption ?

Encoding (like Base64) transforms data into a different format for compatibility, while encryption transforms data for security. Base64 encoded data can be easily decoded by anyone.

Can I encode files with this tool ?

This tool is designed for text input. For file encoding, you would need to first convert the file to a text representation or use specialized file encoding tools.

Why do Base64 strings end with = signs ?

The = characters are padding used when the input length is not divisible by 3. They ensure the encoded string has the correct length.