What is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 encoding is a method for converting binary data into ASCII text using 64 specific characters. It's commonly used to transfer data over text-based media like email or HTTP.
How does Base64 encoding work?
It divides data into 3-byte blocks, then splits those blocks into four 6-bit segments, each of which is mapped to one of 64 ASCII characters.
How do I encode a string in Base64?
Paste your string into our input field and click 'Encode'. The Base64 version will appear instantly in the output box.
How can I decode Base64 text back to normal text?
Use our decoder tool by pasting your Base64 string and clicking 'Decode'. The original text will appear in the result box.
What characters are used in Base64?
Base64 uses A–Z, a–z, 0–9, plus (+), and slash (/) characters, with equals (=) used as padding.
Why is Base64 used in emails?
Base64 encoding is part of the MIME standard and is used to encode binary email attachments like PDFs and images into text.
Is Base64 encoding reversible?
Yes, Base64 encoding is fully reversible using a decoder. It is not a secure method and should not be used to hide sensitive data.
What are Base64URL and URL-safe Base64?
URL-safe Base64 replaces '+' with '-', '/' with '_', and omits '=' padding so the string can be safely used in URLs.
Can I encode files in Base64?
Yes, base64encode.tools allows you to upload and encode files like images, PDFs, and more into Base64 format.
What is the maximum size for Base64 encoding?
There's no strict limit, but Base64 increases the data size by about 33%, so very large files may cause memory issues in browsers..
Does Base64 protect my data?
No. It is only an encoding method, not encryption or hashing. It does not provide confidentiality or integrity.
Is Base64 encoding secure?
Base64 is not secure. It can be easily decoded and should not be used for passwords or confidential data.
How do I make a Base64 encoded string URL-safe?
Replace '+' with '-', '/' with '_', and remove trailing '=' characters. Our tool can do this automatically.
What is padding in Base64?
Padding is the use of '=' at the end of the encoded string to ensure the output is a multiple of 4 characters.
What is MIME Base64 encoding?
MIME Base64 encoding splits output into 76-character lines, typically used for email attachments.
Does Base64 encoding increase size?
Yes, it increases the original size by approximately 33% due to padding and character expansion.
What is the difference between Base64 and Hex?
Base64 is more compact, increasing size by 33%. Hex doubles the size. Base64 is better for data transfer; Hex is better for debugging.
Can I use Base64 in JavaScript?
Yes, you can use `btoa()` for encoding and `atob()` for decoding strings in JavaScript.
How do I encode JSON in Base64?
Stringify the JSON and pass it to the encoder. Example: `btoa(JSON.stringify(obj))`.
How do I encode Base64 in Python?
Use `base64.b64encode()` from Python's built-in `base64` module.
How do I encode Base64 in PHP?
Use the built-in `base64_encode` function in PHP.
What is Base64 used for in APIs?
It’s used to encode credentials in HTTP headers (Basic Auth), and also to encode data in JSON or tokens.
Is Base64 encoding case-sensitive?
Yes, Base64 is case-sensitive. 'A' and 'a' represent different values.
Why do some Base64 strings end with == or =?
The '=' characters are padding used to make the encoded output a multiple of 4 characters.
Does Base64 encoding change line breaks?
It can, especially in MIME-encoded data. You can choose LF or CRLF line breaks when encoding with our tool.
Can Base64 be used in QR codes?
Yes, Base64-encoded strings can be embedded in QR codes, especially for binary data or URLs.
Can I use Base64 in HTML?
Yes, Base64 is often used in HTML for embedding images directly using the data URI scheme.
Is Base64 encoding platform-independent?
Yes, it's a text-based format that works across all platforms and systems.
Why does Base64 output sometimes look random?
Because it's encoded binary data. It's not meant to be human-readable and often appears as gibberish.
What are some alternatives to Base64?
Alternatives include Hex encoding, ASCII85, and URL encoding depending on the use case.
Can I encode each line separately?
Yes, our tool has a checkbox to encode each line separately, which is useful for bulk input or line-by-line processing.
What character sets does Base64 encoding support?
Our encoder supports UTF-8, ASCII, ISO-8859-1, Windows-1252, and many more character sets.
Can I split Base64 into 76-character lines for MIME?
Yes, check the 'Split into 76-character lines' option in our tool to generate MIME-compatible output.
How can I decode Base64 manually?
You can decode Base64 manually by mapping characters back to their binary values and grouping them into bytes, but it's easier to use our tool.