Base64 Encode & Decode
?About this tool, how to use it, and FAQ▾
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 represents binary data using 64 printable characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, + and /), so it can travel safely through channels designed for text — email bodies, JSON payloads, HTTP basic auth headers, data URIs, and XML. This tool encodes text to Base64 and decodes Base64 back to plain text.
It is an encoding, not encryption: anyone can reverse it. Its job is safe transport, not secrecy.
How to use
- Paste your text (or a Base64 string) into the input.
- Choose encode or decode.
- Copy the result — decoding a credential like a basic-auth header reveals the original user:password string.
Frequently asked questions
Is Base64 encryption?
No. Base64 is a reversible encoding with no key — anyone who sees the string can decode it. Never treat Base64 as protection for secrets; it only makes binary data safe to embed in text.
Why does Base64 output end with = signs?
Base64 processes input in 3-byte groups producing 4 characters. When the input length is not a multiple of 3, the output is padded with one or two = characters to keep the block size consistent.
Why is my decoded output garbled?
Either the string is not valid Base64 (check for truncation or URL-safe variant characters - and _), or the decoded bytes are binary data rather than readable text.