Base64 Converter
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to readable text, instantly and in your browser. It is the quick way to inspect a token, embed small data, or check what an encoded string actually contains.
Base64 Converter
Encode plain text to Base64 or decode Base64 strings in one click.
What Base64 is for
Base64 turns binary or text data into a string that uses only safe, printable characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, plus a few symbols). It exists because many systems - email, URLs, JSON, HTML - were built for text and can mangle raw binary. Encoding to Base64 lets you carry an image, a file, or arbitrary bytes through a text-only channel.
A key point that surprises people: Base64 is not encryption. It is fully reversible by anyone, with no key. It hides nothing; it only makes data transport-safe.
Common real uses
You meet Base64 more often than you think.
- Reading the payload of a JWT (the middle section is Base64-encoded JSON).
- Embedding a small icon directly in CSS or HTML as a data URI.
- Inspecting an API value that arrived encoded.
Explore more free tools
Keep your workflow moving with other Utility Hub tools that pair well with Base64 Converter. Jump straight into another task without leaving the site.
FAQs
Is Base64 a form of encryption?▼
No. It is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode Base64 instantly without a password. Never use it to protect secrets - it only makes data safe to transport through text-based systems.
Why is my Base64 string longer than the original?▼
Base64 represents every 3 bytes of input as 4 characters, so the output is about 33% larger. That size cost is the trade-off for making binary data text-safe.
What do the '=' signs at the end mean?▼
They are padding. Base64 works in blocks of 4 characters; when the input does not divide evenly, one or two '=' characters pad the final block. They are part of valid Base64 and should not be removed.
Does my data get uploaded to convert it?▼
No. Encoding and decoding happen in your browser, so the text or data stays on your device. That is why it is safe to decode tokens or private strings here.
What is the difference between Base64 and URL-safe Base64?▼
Standard Base64 uses '+' and '/', which have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces them with '-' and '_' so the string can sit in a URL without being escaped. JWTs use the URL-safe variant.
Can I encode an image or file?▼
Yes, binary data like images can be Base64-encoded, which is how data URIs embed images in HTML/CSS. Keep it to small files - large ones produce huge strings and bloat your page.
Why does decoding give me garbled characters?▼
Usually the input was not valid Base64, was truncated, or was binary data (like an image) being shown as text. Decoding binary back to text only makes sense if the original was text.
Does Base64 handle non-English characters?▼
Yes, as long as the text is treated as UTF-8 before encoding. Emojis and accented letters survive a round trip when the encoder and decoder both use UTF-8, which this tool does.
Is whitespace allowed in Base64?▼
Strict decoders reject stray spaces or line breaks, though some tolerate them. If decoding fails, remove any whitespace or newlines from the string and try again.
Can I decode the payload of a JWT here?▼
Yes. Copy the middle segment (between the two dots) and decode it to see the JSON claims. Remember the signature segment is not meant to be readable, and decoding does not verify the token.
More tools from Developer Tools
Continue with related utilities when this task is part of a bigger workflow.