What Is Base64?
Base64 is a way of representing binary data using only printable text characters (A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, /). It's not encryption — anyone can decode it instantly — but it's essential for safely embedding binary data (images, files, credentials) in text-based formats like HTML, JSON, URLs, and email.
Where You'll See Base64
How to Encode or Decode Base64 for Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Base64 the same as encryption?
No — Base64 is an encoding, not encryption. It makes binary data text-safe; it doesn't hide or protect it. Never use Base64 alone to "secure" sensitive data.
Why does my decoded output look like garbage?
The input you're decoding likely isn't valid Base64 — check for missing characters or extra whitespace, and make sure it doesn't include a "data:...;base64," prefix (strip that first).
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — encoding and decoding both happen locally in your browser using native Web APIs.
Related Tools
Working with tokens or hashes? Check out the JWT Decoder and UUID & Hash Generator.