Base64 Encode/Decode
Convert text to Base64 and back with full Unicode and emoji support. Includes the URL-safe variant. The result updates in real time.
Operación
Resultado
How to use: Base64 text
- 1Pick the operation: encode or decode.
- 2Choose the variant: standard or URL-safe.
- 3Type or paste the text and copy the result.
What is it for?
- Decode Basic Authorization headers or parts of a JWT.
- Encode data to send it in URLs or JSON.
- Inspect Base64 strings found in logs or emails.
Base64: what it is and when to use it
Why it exists
Base64 represents binary data using only 64 safe characters (letters, digits, + and /). It was created to carry bytes through channels designed for text, such as email (MIME), HTML/CSS attributes with embedded images (data URIs) or JSON fields. The cost is a size increase of roughly 33 %.
It is not encryption
Base64 is a reversible encoding with no key: anyone can decode it. Seeing a strange-looking Base64 value in an Authorization: Basic header does not protect it; it only makes it transportable. Never use it to hide passwords or sensitive data.
URL-safe variant and padding
Standard Base64 uses + and /, which have special meaning in URLs. The URL-safe variant replaces them with - and _ and usually omits the "=" padding. It is the format used by JWTs. If decoding gives you a length error, check whether padding is missing or whether you are mixing variants.
Text with accents and emoji
Base64 works on bytes, not characters. Text with accents or emoji must first be converted to UTF-8; if it is encoded with another character set, strange symbols will appear after decoding. This tool uses UTF-8, which is what current APIs and browsers expect.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Base64 for?+
It lets you represent binary data or text with special characters as safe text (ASCII only). Common in APIs, email and embedded data.
What is the URL-safe variant?+
It replaces + and / with - and _ so the string can be used in URLs and filenames without escaping.