When should I use Base64 encoding?

Base64 is commonly used for embedding images in HTML/CSS via data URIs, encoding file attachments in emails, transmitting binary data in JSON/XML APIs, storing binary data in text-based databases, and encoding authentication credentials in HTTP headers.

Does Base64 encoding encrypt my data?

No. Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. It is easily reversible and provides no security. Anyone can decode Base64 data. If you need to protect sensitive data, use proper encryption instead.

Does this tool support Unicode characters?

Yes. This tool fully supports Unicode text including emojis, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other non-ASCII characters. It uses UTF-8 encoding before Base64 conversion.

What is the size overhead of Base64?

Base64 encoding increases the data size by approximately 33%. For example, a 3-byte input becomes 4 characters in Base64 output. This is the trade-off for being able to safely transmit binary data as text.

Base64 Encoder & Decoder

Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to plain text. Supports full Unicode including emojis and non-Latin characters.

What Is Base64 Encoding?

Base64 is a group of binary-to-text encoding schemes that represent binary data as a sequence of printable ASCII characters. It is designed to carry data stored in binary formats across channels that only reliably support text content.