Base64 Encode
Encode any text or UTF-8 string to Base64.
Encode text to Base64. Standard, URL-safe, or MIME variants. Free, offline, runs in your browser. Read more Show less
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding that represents arbitrary bytes using 64 printable ASCII characters. It is used to embed binary data in JSON, XML, emails, data URIs, HTTP headers, and JWT. Base64 is not encryption; anyone can decode it.
How to encode
Type or paste text into the input box. The tool encodes UTF-8 bytes to Base64. Choose URL-safe to replace + and / with - and _. Choose No padding to strip trailing = characters, useful in URLs.
For example, hello encodes to aGVsbG8=.
Variants
RFC 4648 standard uses + and / with = padding. RFC 4648 URL-safe uses - and _. RFC 2045 (MIME) wraps lines at 76 characters with CRLF for email.
Frequently asked questions
Is Base64 secure?
No. Base64 provides no confidentiality or integrity. Use TLS or encryption for security.
Why does Base64 make data larger?
Base64 encodes 3 bytes as 4 characters, adding about 33% overhead (37% with padding stripped removed is not applicable).
Base64 vs Base32 vs Base58
Base64 is the most compact. Base32 is case-insensitive and used in DNS. Base58 avoids look-alike characters and is used by Bitcoin.