Free Tool

Base64 Encoder / Decoder

Encode and decode Base64 strings instantly. Useful for debugging tokens, inspecting encoded data, and data URI generation. 100% client-side.

Your data never leaves your browser

Common Base64 Use Cases

Data URIs

Embed images directly in HTML/CSS without external files.

data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgo...

JWT Tokens

JSON Web Tokens use Base64URL encoding for header and payload.

eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiIxMjM0NTY3ODkw...

Basic Auth Headers

HTTP Basic Authentication encodes credentials in Base64.

Authorization: Basic dXNlcm5hbWU6cGFzc3dvcmQ=

Email Attachments

MIME encoding uses Base64 for binary attachments in email.

Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Base64 encoding?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in ASCII format. It's commonly used to encode data that needs to be transmitted over text-based protocols like HTTP, email, or stored in JSON/XML.

Is Base64 encryption?

No! Base64 is encoding, not encryption. It provides zero security - anyone can decode it instantly. Never use Base64 to 'hide' sensitive data like passwords or API keys. It's meant for data format conversion, not security.

Why does Base64 make data larger?

Base64 encodes 3 bytes of data into 4 ASCII characters, resulting in about 33% size increase. This is the trade-off for being able to safely transmit binary data as text.

Where is Base64 commonly used?

Common uses include: data URIs for embedding images in CSS/HTML, encoding binary attachments in email, encoding authentication tokens, storing binary data in JSON, and URL-safe data transmission.

What is URL-safe Base64?

Standard Base64 uses + and / characters which have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces these with - and _ to make the encoded string safe for use in URLs without additional encoding.

Secure Your Entire App

Base64 encoding is useful but not secure. VAS scans your application for exposed secrets, including those hidden in Base64.

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