Base64 Encoder and Decoder

About Base64 Encoder and Decoder

Base64 converts data into text characters that are safe to send in emails, URLs and APIs. Enter text and choose encode or decode. The tool handles UTF-8 characters. Remember that Base64 is not encryption and offers no protection.

Example

Input: Hello. Output: SGVsbG8=. Decoding SGVsbG8= returns Hello.

Tips for better results

• Do not use Base64 to hide secrets.
• Make sure there are no extra spaces when decoding.
• For files, use the Image to Base64 tool.

When to use Base64 Encoder and Decoder

Use this tool when you need to move text through a channel that only handles plain characters, or when you meet a long string of letters and numbers ending in equals signs and want to see what is inside. Developers use it for basic auth headers, data URIs and email source, while IT staff and marketers sometimes decode a string found in a link or tracking parameter. It is a quick way to check what a Base64 value contains before trusting it.

Real-world uses

• A developer builds a Basic Authorization header for an API test by encoding a username and password pair joined with a colon.
• A support agent decodes a Base64 string copied from a webhook log to read the plain message that was sent to the customer.
• A web designer decodes the text portion of a data URI found in a stylesheet to see what content is embedded there.
• A student learning about web protocols encodes a short sentence and compares the longer output to see how Base64 grows data size.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating encoded text as hidden or protected. Anyone can decode it in seconds, so passwords and keys encoded this way are still exposed.
• Pasting URL-safe Base64, which uses dashes and underscores, into a decoder that expects the standard plus and slash characters, then wondering why the result is garbage.
• Decoding a value that is really binary data, such as an image or a zip file, and expecting readable text. The output will look like random symbols.

Encode or decode text to and from Base64. It works instantly in your browser, so there is nothing to install and nothing to upload. Base64 Encoder and Decoder is part of our collection of 100 free tools in the Developer & Data category.

How to use it

1. Enter your information or choose a file in the tool above.
2. Your result appears right below the tool.
3. Copy the result, or adjust your input and try again.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the encoded text longer than the original?

Base64 represents every three bytes of data as four text characters, so the result is roughly one third larger than the input. That growth is the cost of using only safe characters.

What are the equals signs at the end?

They are padding. Base64 works in groups of three bytes, and when the input does not fill the last group, one or two equals signs are added so the length stays a multiple of four.

Is Base64 Encoder and Decoder free to use?

Yes. Base64 Encoder and Decoder is completely free and you do not need to create an account.

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

No. This tool runs in your browser, so what you type or choose stays on your device.

How accurate are the results?

Calculations use standard formulas, but always double-check important figures, especially for money, health or legal decisions.