Base64 Encode & Decode - Free Online Base64 Converter
Encode and decode Base64 with live preview.
Auto-process as you type
About Base64 Encoder
Base64 encoding converts binary or text data into a string of ASCII characters. It's one of the most common encoding schemes used in web development, email protocols, and data storage — anywhere you need to safely transmit binary data over systems designed to handle text.
Base64 Encoder lets you instantly encode any text to Base64, with optional live mode that encodes as you type.
How to Use Base64 Encoder?
- Type or paste your text into the Input box.
- Click Encode to convert the text to Base64.
- Or toggle Live Mode to automatically encode as you type.
- Copy the result from the Output box using the Copy to Clipboard button.
What Is Base64?
Base64 represents binary data using 64 characters: A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, and /. The = character is used for padding. Because it uses only printable ASCII characters, Base64-encoded data can travel safely through any text-based system without corruption.
Common use cases:
- Embedding images in HTML/CSS — as
data:image/png;base64,...URIs - JWT tokens — JSON Web Tokens use Base64URL encoding
- Email attachments — MIME encodes binary files as Base64
- API payloads — passing binary data in JSON or XML safely
- Storing binary data in databases — as text fields
Base64 vs Base64URL
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters, which have special meanings in URLs. Base64URL replaces these with - and _ for URL-safe encoding. This tool implements standard Base64.
Live Mode
Enable Live Mode to have your text encoded continuously as you type, without needing to click the Encode button. This is useful for quick experiments or real-time preview.
FAQ
Does it support Unicode and emoji?
Yes. The encoder uses encodeURIComponent + unescape internally to handle full Unicode characters including emoji, CJK characters, and accented letters before Base64 encoding.
Is it the same as URL encoding?
No. Base64 and URL encoding (%XX) are different schemes. URL encoding escapes special URL characters; Base64 represents the full binary content as printable ASCII.
How long will the Base64 output be?
Base64 output is approximately 4/3 times the length of the input (every 3 bytes of input produces 4 characters of output).