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Base64 encoder and decoder
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About this tool
Base64 encoder and decoder without uploading
Convert Unicode text to Base64, decode Base64 into UTF-8 text, or transform binary files into downloadable Base64 text and back.
Before you start
Base64 is an encoding, not encryption. Anyone with the encoded text can decode it without a password.
Do I need an account or a paid plan?
No. The current version is free, has no registration and runs on devices with a compatible modern browser.
Is Base64 a secure way to hide sensitive information?
No. Base64 is reversible encoding, not encryption. Anyone who has the encoded data can decode it.
Base64 is an encoding, not encryption
Base64 converts binary or text data into a limited set of printable characters so it can travel through systems designed for text. It is common in data URLs, email formats and API payloads. Anyone who has the Base64 text can decode it, so it should never be used as a way to hide passwords, keys or confidential information.
Encoded data is also larger than the original bytes, typically by roughly one third before surrounding metadata. That makes Base64 convenient for small embedded assets but inefficient for large files. Use ordinary binary files or uploads when the destination supports them.
Practical checks
- Do not confuse encoding with encryption or access control.
- Expect Base64 output to be larger than the source data.
- Use data URLs mainly for small assets where embedding is genuinely useful.
Practical walkthrough · base64 tool
Inspect a short API payload
Example task: A developer receives the Base64 string SGVsbG8= and wants to check what it encodes.
Try this workflow
- Choose the text decoding mode and paste SGVsbG8=.
- Decode it and compare the result with the expected text Hello.
- If the input is a binary file, use the file mode and download the decoded bytes instead of trying to display them as text.
What to expect
SGVsbG8= decodes to Hello in UTF-8. Base64 encodes bytes; it does not protect their confidentiality.
When to take extra care
A malformed string, non-UTF-8 bytes or the wrong mode may produce an error or unreadable characters. Do not paste secrets into shared documents.