Free Online Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Base64 turns binary or text data into an ASCII-safe string, commonly used for embedding data in URLs, JSON payloads, email attachments, and data URIs. Type or paste on either side and the conversion happens instantly. Supports full UTF-8 encoding for international characters, emojis, and multi-byte strings. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Common questions
What is Base64 encoding used for?
It's commonly used to embed binary data (like images) inside text formats such as JSON, HTML, or email (MIME), since Base64 output is guaranteed to be plain ASCII. It's also used in data URIs, API authentication headers, and configuration files.
Is Base64 the same as encryption?
No. Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption — anyone can decode it instantly. It provides no confidentiality, only a safe text representation of binary data.
Why does Base64 encoding increase file size?
Base64 encoding increases size by approximately 33% because it represents 3 bytes of data using 4 ASCII characters. This tradeoff is acceptable for the benefit of text-safe transmission.