Free Online Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Encode plain text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to readable text instantly. Handles Unicode — no data is sent to any server.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 printable ASCII characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /). It is commonly used to embed binary data — such as images or files — inside text-based formats like HTML, CSS, JSON, and email.
How to Use This Base64 Tool
- Select Encode or Decode mode using the tabs.
- Paste your text or Base64 string into the input field.
- Click Encode / Decode (or press
Cmd/Ctrl + Enter). - Use Copy to copy the result to your clipboard.
- Use Swap to move the output back to input and switch modes automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Base64 the same as encryption?
No. Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. It is fully reversible and provides no security. Anyone with a Base64 string can instantly decode it. Use proper encryption (AES, RSA) if security is needed.
Does this tool support Unicode characters?
Yes. The encoder uses TextEncoder to correctly handle Unicode (Chinese, Arabic, emoji, etc.) before encoding, and TextDecoder when decoding.
Is my data private?
Yes. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server.
Where is Base64 commonly used?
- Embedding images in HTML/CSS as data URIs
- Encoding email attachments (MIME)
- Storing binary data in JSON payloads
- Basic authentication headers (username:password)
- JWT token payloads