This Base64 tool encodes plain text to Base64 and decodes Base64 back to readable text as you type. In auto-detect mode it recognises Base64 input and decodes it for you; switch to Encode or Decode to force a direction. Accents, emoji and non-Latin scripts are handled correctly because the text is converted to UTF-8 first.
Tick URL-safe to get the Base64url variant used in JWTs and URLs, wrap long output at 76 characters for MIME email, or drop any file to get its Base64 string. Everything is computed in your browser, so it is fine to paste credentials, API payloads or private documents.
How to use the Base64 Encode / Decode tool
- Type or paste text in the Input box.
- Leave Auto-detect on, or choose Encode or Decode.
- Tick URL-safe if the result goes into a URL, file name or JWT.
- Copy the result, or press Use output as input to reverse it.
- To encode a file, open Encode a file to Base64 and choose the file.
Why use ToolOrca Base64 Encode / Decode
- Live encoding and decoding
- Correct UTF-8 for every language and emoji
- URL-safe Base64url option
- Auto-detects Base64 input
- File to Base64 and binary download
- Private: runs entirely offline
What is Base64?
Base64 is a way to write any binary data using only 64 safe characters: A–Z, a–z, 0–9, + and /, with = as padding. Every 3 bytes of input become 4 characters of output, so Base64 is about 33% larger than the original.
It is used wherever binary data must travel through systems built for text: email attachments (MIME), data URIs in HTML and CSS, HTTP Basic authentication headers, JSON Web Tokens and storing small files in JSON or XML.
Base64 is an encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode it, so never use it to hide passwords or secrets.
Standard Base64 vs URL-safe Base64
The + and / characters have special meanings in URLs and file paths. URL-safe Base64 (Base64url, RFC 4648 §5) replaces them with - and _ and usually drops the = padding. This decoder accepts both forms, with or without padding.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my decoded text show strange characters?
Usually the original text was not UTF-8, or the Base64 is actually a binary file such as an image or PDF. If the data is not valid text, the tool offers a Download decoded file button instead.
Does Base64 encrypt my data?
No. Base64 only changes how data is written. It can be reversed by anyone without a key, so it gives no security.
What is the = sign at the end of Base64?
It is padding. Base64 works in groups of 4 characters, and one or two = signs fill the last group when the input length is not a multiple of 3 bytes.
How do I convert an image to Base64?
Use the file option here for the raw string, or the Image to Base64 tool, which also gives a ready data URI, an HTML img tag and a CSS snippet.