Base64 is encoding, not encryption — anyone can decode it. Never use it to hide secrets.
Why Base64 exists at all
Many systems were built to move plain text, and raw binary data can get mangled on the way through them. Base64 solves that by rewriting data using only common letters, numbers, and a few symbols that almost any system handles. That is why it shows up inside email attachments, web addresses, and data passed between programs. It changes the packaging, not the contents — and definitely not the secrecy.
What to do, step by step
- Paste or type your text into the Input box above.
- Choose Encode to turn it into Base64, or Decode to turn Base64 back into readable text.
- Check the character counts to confirm the result appeared.
- Use Copy result to grab the output without selecting it by hand.
- To verify, decode your encoded result — you should get your original text back.
Base64 FAQs
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents data using 64 safe characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /). It lets you ship binary data through text-only systems like JSON, URLs, and email without corruption.
What is Base64 commonly used for?
Base64 shows up in data URIs (embedding images or fonts directly in HTML/CSS), email attachments, API tokens and keys, storing binary data in JSON, and passing files through systems that only handle plain text.
Is Base64 encryption?
No — Base64 is reversible encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode a Base64 string in seconds. It adds zero security, so never use it to protect passwords, tokens, or other secrets.
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