Base64 is a widely-used encoding method that converts text or binary data into a safe format for transmission over the internet. It uses only 64 ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) making it perfect for email attachments, data URLs, and web APIs. Our tool provides both standard Base64 and URL-safe Base64 encoding and decoding.
Email Attachments: Encode binary files for email transmission
Data URLs: Embed images or files directly in HTML/CSS
API Authentication: Encode credentials for HTTP basic auth
Data Storage: Store binary data in text-based formats (JSON, XML)
URL Parameters: Safely include binary data in URLs (use URL-safe option)
Character Set: Uses 64 safe characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /
Encoding Process: Converts every 3 bytes of input into 4 Base64 characters
Padding: Adds = characters at the end to ensure proper alignment
Output Size: Encoded data is approximately 33% larger than the original
Safety: Results contain only printable ASCII characters, safe for text protocols
Purpose: Safe for use in URLs, filenames, and HTTP headers
Character Changes: Replaces + with - and / with _
Padding: Removes trailing = characters to avoid URL encoding issues
Use Cases: JWT tokens, URL parameters, file names, database keys
Compatibility: RFC 4648 standard, supported by most modern systems