Base64 Encoder/Decoder

How it works

1. Enter text. 2. Choose Encode or Decode. 3. Click Convert. 4. Copy the result.

When to use it

The Base64 tool is useful in numerous development scenarios:

• Image embedding: convert small images to data URIs to reduce HTTP requests.
• API authentication: encode credentials for HTTP Basic Authentication in API calls.
• Email: decode MIME/Base64 email attachments.
• JWT Tokens: decode JWT token payload sections for debugging.
• Storage: encode binary data for saving in text-only databases.

Advantages

Instant conversion. Supports UTF-8. No data stored on server.

Benefits vs alternatives

Compared to other online Base64 encoders:

• Full UTF-8 support: correctly handles accented characters, emoji and special characters.
• Bidirectional: encode and decode in the same tool, with one click.
• Privacy: no data sent to servers. Processing happens entirely in the browser.
• No limits: no text size limit, unlike services that cap at a few KB.
• Speed: instant result with no waiting or captcha.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Confusing encoding with encryption: Base64 is not encryption. Encoded text is easily decoded by anyone. Don't use it to protect sensitive data.
2. Newlines in output: some implementations add line breaks every 76 characters (MIME). If using in a URL or HTTP header, remove newlines.
3. Double encoding: encoding already Base64-encoded text produces unusable results. Check if text is already encoded before proceeding.
4. Removed padding "=": Base64 padding (= characters) is necessary for correct decoding. Don't remove it manually.
5. Wrong charset: if the original text uses a different encoding than UTF-8 (like ISO-8859-1), decoding may produce wrong characters.

Category