Base64 Explained: How to Encode and Decode Data for the Web

Binary data (like images or files) and text protocols (like HTML or JSON) don't always get along. Enter Base64.

What is Base64?

Base64 is a way to translate binary data into a set of 64 safe, printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). This ensures that your data doesn't get corrupted when sent through systems that might choke on special characters.

Common Use Cases

• Data URIs: Embedding small icons directly into CSS to save an HTTP request.
• Email Attachments: Sending files via SMTP, which was originally designed only for text.
• APIs: Sending binary files inside a JSON object.

Try It Out

Need to debug a Base64 string or encode a credential? Our Base64 Encoder/Decoder makes it easy to switch between raw text and safe Base64 strings.