Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 ASCII characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /). It is not encryption — anyone can decode it.

Why does Base64 end with == sometimes?

Base64 encodes 3 bytes at a time. If the input is not a multiple of 3 bytes, padding (=) is added to make the output a multiple of 4 characters.

Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?

No. Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It is easily reversible without any key. Never use Base64 alone to secure sensitive data.

Can I encode binary files?

This text tool handles text strings. To encode image or binary files, use the Encode Image to Base64 tool on this site.

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All ToolsEncode / Decode Base64

Encode / Decode Base64

Encode plain text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to text. Handles Unicode and special characters.

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Plain Text Input

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What is Encode / Decode Base64?

Encode/Decode Base64 is a free online tool that encodes plain text to Base64 format or decodes Base64 back to readable text. Base64 is used throughout web development — in data URIs, JWT tokens, HTTP Basic authentication, and email attachments.

How It Works

Encoding uses the browser's btoa() function (with UTF-8 support via TextEncoder for Unicode). Decoding uses atob(). Both run entirely client-side. Unicode characters outside Latin-1 are handled by percent-encoding before the btoa call.

How to Use

1
Paste text or binary data
Enter the text you want to encode, or paste a Base64 string you want to decode.
2
Encode or decode
Click "Encode to Base64" to convert text to Base64, or "Decode from Base64" to reverse the operation.
3
Copy the result
Copy the encoded or decoded output to your clipboard for use in code, APIs, or emails.
4
Encode files (optional)
Use the Encode Image to Base64 tool to convert image files to Base64 data URLs for embedding in HTML or CSS.

Who Uses This Tool

🔑

HTTP Basic Authentication

Encode "username:password" to Base64 for use in the Authorization: Basic header of HTTP requests.

🖼️

Data URI Inspection

Decode a data:image/png;base64,... URI to inspect or extract the raw bytes of an embedded image.

📧

Email Attachment Encoding

Encode binary attachment content to Base64 to embed it safely within MIME-formatted email messages.

🔐

JWT Payload Reading

Decode the Base64URL-encoded middle section of a JWT token to read its JSON payload without a library.

📦

API Payload Encoding

Encode binary or Unicode content to Base64 so it can be transmitted safely through JSON API fields.

🛠️

Debugging Encoded Strings

Quickly decode an unknown Base64 string encountered in logs, configs, or source code to see its raw value.

Why Choose This Tool

Unicode Support

Handles multi-byte Unicode characters correctly using percent-encoding before the btoa call, preventing encoding failures.

Clear Error Messages

Invalid Base64 input produces a descriptive error rather than silently returning garbage, so issues are immediately obvious.

One-Click Mode Switch

Toggle between encode and decode modes with a single button tap without clearing your existing text.

Instant Processing

Encoding and decoding run synchronously in the browser so results appear the moment you click.

No Size Limit

Handles arbitrarily long strings in the browser without any file-size restrictions or timeouts.

Private by Default

No text is ever sent to a server, making this safe for encoding credentials, tokens, and sensitive payloads.

Also Try

URL Encode/Decode Image to Base64 Hash Generator JWT Generator JSON Formatter Regex Tester

Key Benefits

Encode or decode with a single click
Handles Unicode and special characters correctly
Shows clear error messages for invalid Base64 input
Copy output instantly
No data leaves your browser

Frequently Asked Questions

Also Known As

base64 encoder decoder online freeencode text to base64 onlinedecode base64 string onlinebase64 converter browser basedonline base64 encode decode toolbase64 decoder no installconvert text to base64 onlinebase64 encoding tool free

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