Examples
Simple Text
JSON Data
URL
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in ASCII format.
It uses 64 characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /
Commonly used for encoding data in emails, URLs, and web applications.
Common Use Cases
• Embedding images in HTML/CSS (data URLs)
• Encoding credentials for HTTP Basic Auth
• Storing binary data in JSON/XML
• Email attachments (MIME encoding)
About Base64 Encoding
Base64 encoding converts binary data into ASCII text format using a set of 64 characters. It's essential for web development, email systems, and data transmission where binary data needs to be represented as text. Our Base64 converter provides instant encoding and decoding with error handling.
Base64 Applications
- Data URLs for embedding images in CSS/HTML
- HTTP Basic Authentication credentials
- Email attachment encoding (MIME)
- JSON/XML binary data storage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding used for?
Base64 encoding converts binary data into ASCII text format, making it safe for transmission over text-based protocols like email, HTTP, and JSON. It's commonly used for embedding images, encoding credentials, and data URLs.
Is Base64 encoding secure for passwords?
No, Base64 is not encryption - it's just encoding. Anyone can easily decode Base64 text. Never use Base64 alone for password security. Use proper encryption methods like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for password hashing.
Why does Base64 make data larger?
Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33% because it uses 4 ASCII characters to represent every 3 bytes of binary data. This overhead is the trade-off for text-safe transmission.
What are data URLs and how do they use Base64?
Data URLs embed files directly in HTML/CSS using Base64 encoding (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAA...). This eliminates separate HTTP requests but increases HTML size and isn't cacheable.
Can Base64 handle Unicode characters?
Yes, but Unicode text must first be converted to UTF-8 bytes before Base64 encoding. Our converter handles this automatically, ensuring proper encoding/decoding of international characters and emojis.
What's the difference between Base64 and URL-safe Base64?
URL-safe Base64 replaces '+' with '-' and '/' with '_' to avoid conflicts with URL special characters. It's used in web tokens (JWT), URL parameters, and filenames where standard Base64 characters might cause issues.