Base 64 Encoder

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data (such as images, files, or any byte stream) in an ASCII string format. It is commonly used to transmit data over media that are designed to handle textual data, like email (MIME), HTML, or JSON APIs.

The term “Base64” comes from the fact that it uses a set of 64 characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /) to represent binary data in a text-safe format. Padding is added with = characters to maintain alignment.

While Base64 increases the size of the encoded data by about 33%, it ensures compatibility when embedding or transmitting binary content through systems that only support text, such as web APIs, cookies, or HTML documents.

Common Use Cases:

• Embedding images in HTML or CSS: Convert image files to Base64 for inline display in src or background-image attributes.
• Data URIs: Used in emails or documents where images must be embedded directly in the content.
• Storing small files in JSON: Convert binary files (e.g., PDFs or profile pictures) to Base64 for embedding in JSON or form data.
• Encoding authentication data: Used in Basic Auth headers (e.g., Authorization: Basic <base64-credentials>).
• Cross-platform transmission: Ensures binary data remains intact during transport over protocols like HTTP or SMTP.

Base64 is not encryption — it’s an encoding mechanism. It should not be used to secure sensitive data but rather to safely represent it in text-based formats.

Base64 encodes binary data using a fixed set of 64 ASCII characters: uppercase A–Z, lowercase a–z, digits 0–9, and the symbols + and /. The output is a continuous string of characters, often padded with one or two = symbols at the end to ensure proper alignment.

Character Set:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/

Padding:

Base64 output is always in multiples of 4 characters. If the input doesn’t evenly divide into 3-byte chunks, the output is padded with = (one or two) characters:

• 1 byte input → 2 Base64 characters + == padding
• 2 byte input → 3 Base64 characters + = padding
• 3 bytes input → 4 Base64 characters (no padding)

Example:

Original: Hello Base64: SGVsbG8=

Base64 is line-break-free by default, but MIME and PEM formats may insert line breaks after every 76 characters. Many tools allow toggling line breaks for compatibility.

A Base64 Encoder converts plain text, binary files, or other data into a Base64-encoded string. This is useful for safely embedding data into environments that only support ASCII text, such as HTML, CSS, email, or JSON payloads.

Why Use a Base64 Encoder?

• Embed images and files: Encode images or documents for inline use in HTML or CSS using Data URIs.
• Transmit binary data: Safely send files, PDFs, or images via text-based protocols like HTTP, SMTP, or WebSocket.
• Authentication: Create encoded tokens or credentials for use in APIs (e.g. Basic Auth headers).
• Store data: Embed files inside JSON objects, database fields, or configuration files.

How to Use the Tool

• Paste your text or binary content into the left editor.
• Click the “Base64 Encode” button between the editors.
• View the Base64-encoded output in the right-hand editor instantly.

The tool automatically handles line breaks, padding, and character conversion, making it ideal for developers working on file uploads, API integrations, or secure token generation.