Base64 Encode & Decode
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It is commonly used to embed binary data in JSON payloads, email attachments, data URIs, and webhook bodies.
Does Base64 encoding encrypt my data?
No. Base64 is an encoding, not encryption. It transforms data into a text-safe format but does not provide any security. Anyone can decode Base64 strings. For security, use encryption (e.g., AES) or HMAC signing.
Why is my Base64 output larger than the input?
Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33% because it represents every 3 bytes of input as 4 ASCII characters. This trade-off is necessary for safe transport over text-based protocols.
Does this tool support UTF-8 and emoji?
Yes. This tool fully supports UTF-8 encoding, including multi-byte characters and emoji. It uses the TextEncoder/TextDecoder APIs to correctly handle all Unicode characters.