Base64 Converter: Encode & Decode Instantly
Base64 Encoding and Decoding Explained
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that translates binary data into a sequence of printable ASCII characters. It is commonly used when there is a need to encode data that needs to be stored and transferred over media that are designed to deal with textual data. This ensures that the data remains intact without modification during transport.
The Base64 Encoder Decoder Calculator simplifies this process. Whether you need to encode sensitive strings for basic obfuscation or decode data streams from APIs, this tool handles UTF-8 characters correctly, ensuring compatibility with various languages and symbols.
How Base64 Works
Base64 works by dividing the binary data into 6-bit chunks. Each 6-bit chunk maps to a specific character in the Base64 alphabet, which consists of A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /. If the data length is not divisible by 3 bytes, padding characters (=) are added to the end.
Mathematically, Base64 encoding increases the size of the data by approximately 33%. This is because 3 bytes of binary data (24 bits) are represented by 4 characters of Base64 text (4 x 6 bits = 24 bits).
When to Use Base64
- Email Attachments: MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) uses Base64 to transmit images and other binary files via email.
- Data URLs: Embedding small images or fonts directly into HTML or CSS files to reduce HTTP requests.
- API Authentication: Basic Authentication headers often require credentials to be Base64 encoded.
Technical Limitations
While Base64 is useful for data transport, it is not encryption. It provides no security and can be easily decoded by anyone. Do not use Base64 to hide sensitive information such as passwords or private keys without additional encryption layers.