How to Use the Base64 Encoder
- Type or paste the text you want to encode.
- The Base64-encoded result appears instantly below.
- Copy the result, or clear the input to start over.
What is Base64?
Base64 is an encoding scheme that represents binary data using only 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It was designed to let binary or special-character data travel safely through systems that only reliably handle plain text, such as older email systems or certain parts of a URL.
Base64 is encoding, not encryption
This is important and often misunderstood: Base64 provides no security whatsoever. It is a reversible, publicly known transformation — anyone can decode Base64 back to the original data instantly, with no key or secret required. Never use Base64 as a substitute for actual encryption if you need to keep data confidential.
Common uses and Unicode considerations
Base64 is commonly used to embed small images directly in CSS or HTML (data URIs), encode binary attachments in email, and pass data safely inside URLs or JSON. When encoding text with non-ASCII characters (accents, emoji, non-Latin scripts), the text is first converted to UTF-8 bytes before Base64 encoding, which this tool handles automatically.
Example
Hello, World!
SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==
Tips
- Base64-encoded output is roughly 33% larger than the original input.
- Never rely on Base64 to hide sensitive information — it offers zero confidentiality.
- The trailing "=" characters are padding, not part of the actual encoded data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Base64 encryption?
No. Base64 is a reversible encoding format with no key or secret. Anyone can decode it. If you need confidentiality, use real encryption instead.
Why does Base64 output end with "="?
The "=" characters are padding added when the input length isn't evenly divisible by 3 bytes, which Base64 encoding requires for its 4-character output blocks.
Is my text sent to a server?
No, encoding happens entirely in your browser using standard JavaScript APIs.