Base64 Encoder / Decoder

Understanding Base64 Encoding

Base64 is a group of binary-to-text encoding schemes that represent binary data in an ASCII string format. It works by taking 3 bytes of data (24 bits) and representing them as 4 printable characters (6 bits each) from a standard set of 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /).

Common Use Cases

• Data URIs: Embedding small images (like logos or icons) directly into HTML or CSS files to reduce HTTP requests. Format: data:image/png;base64,...
• Email Transmission: SMTP servers were originally designed for text. Base64 ensures that binary attachments (images, PDFs) travel safely without corruption.
• Authentication: Basic Authentication headers in HTTP requests use Base64 to encode username:password pairs.

Is Base64 Encryption?

No. Base64 is NOT encryption. It is an encoding scheme, meaning it can be easily decoded by anyone without a key. Never use Base64 to hide secrets or passwords without an additional layer of actual encryption (like AES or TLS).