What is Base64 encoding used for?

Base64 converts binary data into a text-safe format. It is commonly used in email attachments, data URIs, JWTs, and API payloads to transmit binary data as plain text.

Is my data sent to a server?

Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser. Our servers are not involved at any point.

Does Base64 encrypt my data?

Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. Anyone who receives the Base64 string can decode it instantly. Do not use it to hide sensitive information.

Can I encode files, not just text?

Yes. Use the File to Base64 page to get a file's Base64 representation, or Image to Data URI for a data URI you can embed in CSS or HTML.

Base64 Encoder / Decoder

Base64 encoder and decoder is a data tool that converts UTF-8 text to Base64 and back. It encodes emoji and non-Latin scripts correctly, accepts URL-safe and unpadded input when decoding, and has dedicated pages that turn files up to 10 MB into Base64 strings or image data URIs. The tool runs in your browser.

Plain text

Base64

BASE64

Converts UTF-8 text to Base64 encoding. Handles Unicode characters correctly.

Runs entirely in your browser

All Base64 tools

File encoding, decoding, and image data URIs.

Base64 Encode Text

Encode text to Base64 with UTF-8 handling, so emoji and non-Latin scripts round-trip correctly. Output uses the standard alphabet. Runs in your browser.

Base64 Decode

Decode Base64 to readable UTF-8 text, including emoji and accented letters. Accepts URL-safe and unpadded input. All processing runs in your browser.

File to Base64

Convert any file to a Base64 string. Keeps working offline once the page has loaded. All processing runs in your browser.

Image to Data URI

Convert an image to a Base64 data URI for HTML or CSS, removing GPS and camera metadata from JPEG, PNG, WebP, and GIF by default. Runs in your browser.

How to encode or decode Base64

Choose Encode or Decode.
Paste the text to encode, or the Base64 to decode, into the input area.
The result appears instantly in the output area.
Click "Copy" to copy the encoded or decoded result to your clipboard.

Common uses

Encoding binary data (images, files) as Base64 for embedding in JSON or HTML
Decoding Base64-encoded strings from APIs, JWTs, or data URIs, use JWT decoder to inspect full token claims
Checking what data is stored inside a Base64-encoded field, pair with URL encoding when transmitting in query strings

Technical specification

Algorithm or formula: Standard Base64 encoding per RFC 4648. Text mode wraps the browser primitives in a UTF-8 safe layer so non-ASCII characters round-trip correctly.
Browser API or library: Native btoa and atob combined with TextEncoder and TextDecoder for UTF-8. File mode uses FileReader.readAsDataURL.
Input limits: Files capped at 10 MB to keep encoding instantaneous. Text input is bounded by available browser memory.
Output: Plain Base64 string for text and files, or a full data URI (data:{mime};base64,...) for images.
Known limitations: Base64-url (with - and _) is decoded automatically but not produced. Output is not chunked into 76-character lines (MIME variant).

Frequently asked questions

What is Base64 encoding used for?: Base64 converts binary data into a text-safe format. It is commonly used in email attachments, data URIs, JWTs, and API payloads to transmit binary data as plain text.
Is my data sent to a server?: Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser. Our servers are not involved at any point.
Does Base64 encrypt my data?: Base64 is an encoding scheme, not encryption. Anyone who receives the Base64 string can decode it instantly. Do not use it to hide sensitive information.
Can I encode files, not just text?: Yes. Use the File to Base64 page to get a file's Base64 representation, or Image to Data URI for a data URI you can embed in CSS or HTML.

Related tools

Background reading: Complete guide to data tools

Reviewed and tested September 30, 2026.