Base64/Base32/Hex Codec

Freely convert between Text, Base64, Base32, and Hex

Free online codec that freely converts between Text, Base64, Base32, and Hex formats. Encode and decode in one tool. All processing is done in your browser, no data is stored.

How to Use

Convert in 3 simple steps:

Select Input Format

Choose the source format (Text, Base64, Base32, or Hex).

Enter Data

Enter or paste the data you want to convert into the text area.

Select Output Format and Convert

Select the target format and click 'Convert' to instantly see the conversion result.

Privacy Protection: All conversion is performed in your browser, data is not sent or stored on any server.

Base64/Base32/Hex Converter

Input Format

Output Format

Input Data

Conversion Result

Practical Use Cases for Base64 Encoder

Base64 encoding is used in various scenarios in web and system development:

Encoding Email Attachments

Email uses text-based protocols (SMTP), so binary files like images and PDFs need to be Base64 encoded. Encoding files in MIME format allows them to be sent safely.

Generating Data URLs (Data URIs)

When embedding small images or icons directly in HTML or CSS, Base64-encoded Data URLs are used. This reduces HTTP requests and improves page loading speed.

API Authentication (Basic Auth)

In HTTP Basic authentication, the username and password are combined with a colon (:) and Base64 encoded for inclusion in the authentication header.

JSON Web Token (JWT)

The header and payload sections of a JWT are represented using Base64URL encoding (a variant of Base64).

Transferring Binary Data

When transferring binary data in JSON format, Base64 encoding is used to convert it to text format.

What is Base64? Understanding the Mechanism

Base64 is an encoding method that represents binary data using only 64 printable ASCII characters. The name "64" comes from the fact that it uses 64 characters (2 to the 6th power).

The 64 Characters Used in Base64

Uppercase alphabet: A-Z (26 characters)
Lowercase alphabet: a-z (26 characters)
Numbers: 0-9 (10 characters)
Symbols: + (plus) and / (slash) (2 characters)
Padding character: = (equals)

How Encoding Works

Base64 encoding divides 3 bytes (24 bits) of data into four 6-bit units, mapping each to one of the above 64 characters.

Encoding Example

Original text: "Hello"
Binary representation: 01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111
Base64 result: SGVsbG8=

When the data size is not a multiple of 3, padding with "=" is added at the end.

Uses and Benefits of Base64 Encoding

Improved Data Transfer Reliability

Even in systems that only support text (such as older email systems), binary data can be safely transferred using Base64 encoding. It prevents data corruption.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Since Base64 uses only ASCII characters, there are no character encoding issues when exchanging data between different systems.

Conversion to URL-Safe Strings

Using Base64URL encoding (replacing + with - and / with _) allows you to generate strings that can be safely used in URLs and filenames.

Embedding Data

By embedding images and fonts directly in CSS and HTML files, you can reduce requests to external files and improve page performance.

Important: Base64 is NOT Encryption

⚠️ Base64 encoding is NOT encryption. This is an important distinction.

Difference Between Encoding and Encryption

Encoding

Process of converting data to another format
Anyone can reverse it (reversible)
Not for security purposes
Base64 encoding falls into this category

Encryption

Converting data to unreadable format using a secret key
Cannot be reversed without the key
Purpose is security and privacy protection
Examples include AES, RSA, etc.

Base64-encoded strings can be easily decoded by anyone. Therefore, you should never use Base64 to "hide" passwords or confidential information.

Proper Usage

✅ Converting data transfer formats
✅ Text representation of binary data
✅ Encoding email attachments
❌ Protecting passwords (use encryption instead)
❌ Hiding confidential information (use encryption instead)

If you need to protect confidential data, use strong encryption algorithms such as AES-256.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Base64 encoding increase data size?

Yes, Base64 encoding increases data size by approximately 33%. This is because 3 bytes of data becomes 4 characters (4 bytes) of Base64 string. However, this increase can be offset by combining it with gzip compression.

Is Base64-encoded data secure?

Base64 is not encryption, so it is not secure for "hiding" purposes. Anyone can easily decode it. However, it is effective for preventing data corruption during transfer.

What is the difference between Base64 and Base64URL?

Base64URL is a variant modified for use in URLs and filenames. It replaces + with -, / with _, and may omit the padding =.

Can I Base64 encode Japanese text and emojis?

Yes, you can. Japanese text and emojis are converted to binary data using character encodings like UTF-8, then Base64 encoded.

Where is the Base64 decoder?

We also provide a Base64 decoder on this site. You can restore encoded data to its original form.

Is it safe to encode confidential data with online tools?

Our tool completes all processing in your browser and does not send data to servers. However, for highly confidential data, we recommend using tools in a local environment.

Is Base64 encoding supported in all programming languages?

Yes, almost all major programming languages (JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, C#, etc.) have Base64 encode/decode functionality built-in as standard.

Is there a maximum character limit for Base64 encoding?

This online tool has a limit of 2,050 characters for performance considerations. For encoding larger data, please use the standard library of your programming language.