Base64 Encoder Decoder

About Base64 Encoding

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used to encode data that needs to be stored or transferred over media designed to deal with textual data. This encoding helps ensure that data remains intact without modification during transport.

Common Use Cases

• Email Attachments: Encode binary files for email transmission
• Data URIs: Embed images and other resources directly in HTML/CSS
• API Development: Encode credentials and tokens for HTTP authentication
• Database Storage: Store binary data in text-based storage systems
• URL Encoding: Encode data for safe transmission in URLs

How Base64 Works

Base64 encoding converts every 3 bytes of binary data into 4 ASCII characters. The encoding uses a 64-character alphabet consisting of uppercase letters (A-Z), lowercase letters (a-z), digits (0-9), and two additional characters (+ and /). The = character is used for padding when the input length is not divisible by 3.

Best Practices

• Always validate Base64 strings before decoding to avoid errors
• Remember that Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33%
• Use Base64 for text-safe transmission, not for encryption or compression
• Be cautious when encoding sensitive data as Base64 is easily reversible