Base64 Encode/Decode Tool

What is Base64?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It is commonly used when there is a need to encode binary data that needs to be stored and transferred over media designed to deal with text.

Common Use Cases

• Data URLs: Embed images directly in HTML/CSS
• API Payloads: Send binary data in JSON/XML
• Basic Obfuscation: Simple data masking (not secure encryption)
• Email Attachments: Encode files for SMTP transfer

How It Works

Base64 uses 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) and = for padding. Each character represents 6 bits of data, converting 3 bytes of binary data into 4 ASCII characters.

Security Considerations

• Not Encryption: Base64 provides no security - it is easily reversible
• Input Validation: Always validate decoded content
• Size Increase: Encoded data is ~33% larger than original
• URL Safety: Use URL-safe variants for web applications