Question 1

What is Base64 encoding?

Accepted Answer

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 64 ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, + and /). It's commonly used to encode data for transmission over text-based protocols like email or embedding images in HTML/CSS.

Question 2

What is URL-safe Base64?

Accepted Answer

URL-safe Base64 replaces the + character with - and / with _ to make the encoded string safe for use in URLs without requiring percent-encoding. This variant is commonly used in JWTs and web applications.

Question 3

Can I encode files to Base64?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Drag and drop a file into the file upload area or click to select a file. The tool will convert the entire file contents to Base64, which you can then copy and use in your applications.

Question 4

Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?

Accepted Answer

No, Base64 is NOT encryption. It's simply an encoding method that represents data in a different format. Anyone can decode Base64 without a key. Never use Base64 alone to protect sensitive data.

Question 5

Why does Base64 increase file size?

Accepted Answer

Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33% because it uses 4 characters to represent every 3 bytes of binary data. This trade-off allows binary data to be safely transmitted over text-based protocols.

Base64 Encoder & Decoder

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Base64

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Encode File to Base64