Base64 Converter
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to plain text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding used for?+
Base64 encodes binary or text data as a string of printable ASCII characters, making it safe to transmit through systems that only handle text. Common uses include embedding images in CSS data URIs, encoding email attachments, and passing binary data in JSON or HTML attributes.
Why is Base64 output longer than the original text?+
Base64 encodes every 3 bytes of input as 4 ASCII characters, increasing the size by roughly 33%. This overhead is the trade-off for producing a string with no special characters that can safely travel through any text-based transport.
Does this tool support UTF-8 characters and emojis?+
Yes. The tool uses encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent to handle the full Unicode range before and after btoa/atob, so emojis, accented letters, and CJK characters all encode and decode correctly.
Is Base64 a form of encryption?+
No. Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. Anyone who receives a Base64 string can decode it instantly with no key or password required. Never use Base64 to obscure sensitive data — use proper encryption instead.
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How to use
- Type or paste plain text into the left box to get the Base64 encoding.
- Paste a Base64 string into the right box to decode it back to plain text.
- The tool supports UTF-8 characters (like emojis and special symbols).
- Use the Copy buttons to quickly grab the result.