// encode & hash tool
Base64 Encode & Decode
Encode text, URLs and files to Base64 or decode Base64 strings. 100% browser-based — your data stays private.
📥 Input
📤 Output
About Base64 Encoding
What is Base64 encoding? ▼
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It's used to safely transmit binary data over text-based protocols like HTTP, email (SMTP), and JSON.
When should I use URL-Safe Base64? ▼
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters which have special meaning in URLs. URL-Safe Base64 replaces + with - and / with _ so the encoded string can be safely used in URLs, query parameters, and filenames without encoding issues.
Why does Base64 increase file size? ▼
Base64 encoding increases the size of data by approximately 33% because it converts every 3 bytes of binary data into 4 ASCII characters. This size increase is the trade-off for making binary data safe to transmit as text.
Is Base64 a form of encryption? ▼
No! Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode a Base64 string instantly — there's no secret key or password. Never use Base64 to hide sensitive data. Use proper encryption (AES, RSA) if you need security.