Base64 Encode / Decode
Convert text to and from Base64. Full UTF-8 support and a URL-safe variant for use in tokens.
Output appears here
What is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts arbitrary data into a string of 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It is widely used to embed binary data — images, files, or cryptographic keys — in text-based contexts like JSON payloads, HTML data URIs, and HTTP headers.
This tool encodes plain text to Base64 and decodes Base64 back to its original form. It supports UTF-8 text, the standard Base64 alphabet, and the URL-safe variant (which uses - and _ instead of + and /).
How to encode or decode Base64 online
- Select Encode or Decode mode.
- Paste your text or Base64 string into the Input box.
- The result appears instantly in the Output panel.
- Optionally enable URL-safe mode for use in URLs and filenames.
- Click Copy to copy the result to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Base64 the same as encryption?
No. Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. Anyone with the Base64 string can decode it instantly without a key. Never use Base64 to protect sensitive data.
Why does Base64 output end with = or ==?
Base64 encodes 3 bytes at a time into 4 characters. If the input is not a multiple of 3 bytes, padding characters (=) are added to make the output length a multiple of 4.
What is URL-safe Base64?
Standard Base64 uses + and / which have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces + with - and / with _, making it safe to use in URL query parameters and filenames without percent-encoding.
How much larger is Base64 output than the original?
Base64 increases the data size by approximately 33%. Every 3 bytes of input become 4 Base64 characters.
What is the difference between Base64 and Base58?
Base58 omits visually ambiguous characters (0, O, I, l) and is commonly used in Bitcoin addresses and IPFS identifiers. Base64 uses a 64-character alphabet and is the standard for binary-to-text encoding in web protocols.