Base64 Encoder & Decoder — Guide

Simply encode and decode strings into their base64 representation.

What it is and when to use it

Base64 is an encoding that represents data using 64 printable ASCII characters, so payloads can travel through text-only channels: email (MIME), data URLs, HTTP Basic credentials and JSON fields. It maps every 3 bytes to 4 characters and pads the tail with = when the input is not a multiple of 3 bytes.

Encodes text to Base64, or decodes Base64 back to the original text. Common for query parameters, Authorization headers and temporarily hiding plain text.

How to use it

  1. Enter the text on the left
  2. The encoded result appears on the right immediately
  3. To decode, flip the direction and paste the Base64 into the left side

A worked example

Fill in sample text

Hello DigDevBox

Copy this into the tool, or open Base64 Encoder & Decoder

Things that trip people up

  • Base64 is encoding, not encryption — anyone can reverse it, so never use it to store passwords

Questions people ask

Is Base64 encryption?
No. It is a reversible encoding with no secret key — anyone can decode it. Never use it to protect passwords or tokens; use real encryption or hashing for that.
Why does the result end with one or two = signs?
Base64 processes input in 3-byte groups. When the last group is incomplete, = characters pad the output to a multiple of 4. The padding carries no data and can stay as it is.
Why does my Base64 break inside a URL?
The standard alphabet uses + and /, which have special meanings in URLs. Switch on the URL-safe option when decoding such values, and percent-encode the string before putting it into a query parameter.

Next steps

Open the Base64 Encoder & Decoder tool

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