What is Base64 Encode / Decode?
The Base64 Encode / Decode tool converts arbitrary text and binary data to and from the Base64 encoding scheme defined in RFC 4648. Base64 represents binary data using a set of 64 ASCII characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /) plus padding with '='. It is essential whenever binary content must travel through text-only channels such as email (MIME), JSON payloads, HTML data URIs, HTTP headers, or XML documents. Developers encounter Base64 daily when embedding images in CSS, transmitting authentication credentials in HTTP Basic Auth, or storing binary blobs in databases that only accept text. This tool handles encoding and decoding of plain text (UTF-8), image files, PDFs, and other binary formats with zero data loss.
Why Use Base64 Encode / Decode?
Without a reliable Base64 tool, developers often resort to writing one-off scripts or searching for command-line incantations that differ across operating systems. Our tool provides a consistent, cross-platform experience that works in any modern browser. It automatically detects whether your input is Base64-encoded or plain text, reducing friction. It also generates ready-to-use data URI strings for images, so you can embed assets directly in HTML or CSS without a separate build step. For security-conscious teams, the entire operation runs client-side — your sensitive tokens, credentials, and files stay on your device.
How to Use
Choose the Encode or Decode tab. For encoding, paste your text into the input field or drag-and-drop a file (images, PDFs, documents). Click 'Encode' to get the Base64 string. For decoding, paste a Base64 string and click 'Decode' to see the original text or to download the reconstructed binary file. If the input is a data URI (e.g., data:image/png;base64,...), the tool strips the prefix automatically. Toggle the 'URL-Safe' option to use the URL-safe Base64 alphabet (replacing + with - and / with _), which is required for JWTs, URL parameters, and filename-safe strings.
Example Usage
Imagine you need to embed a small logo in an HTML email where external image links are blocked. Drag the PNG file into the encoder; it produces a string like 'data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgo...'. Paste that directly into an <img> tag's src attribute, and the image renders without any external request. Conversely, if you receive a Base64-encoded API token like 'dXNlcjpwYXNzd29yZA==', paste it into the decoder to reveal the plaintext 'user:password' — helpful for debugging authentication issues quickly.
Benefits
Instant conversion with no server round-trip keeps your data private and your workflow fast. Support for both standard and URL-safe alphabets covers every encoding scenario. Drag-and-drop file support eliminates the need for command-line tools. The generated data URIs can be copied and used directly in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Output size estimation helps you decide whether inline embedding is practical or whether an external file is more efficient.