Base64 Converter

Encode text & files to Base64 strings instantly.

Source (Text or File)

Base64 Output

Understanding Base64 Encoding

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that translates binary data (like images, PDFs, or files) into an ASCII string format. This is crucial for systems that can only handle text safely, such as email (MIME) or JSON APIs.

Common Uses

Data URIs: Embedding small icons/images directly into CSS to speed up website loading.
Email Attachments: Sending files via SMTP.
Authentication: Basic Auth headers often use Base64 encoded credentials.

How it Works

Base64 takes your input and breaks it into 6-bit chunks. Each chunk is then mapped to a specific character from the Base64 alphabet (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). Because 6 bits is smaller than a byte (8 bits), the output string is usually ~33% larger than the original file.