Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode text, files, and images to Base64
About the Base64 Encoder / Decoder
Base64 encoding turns binary data or text into a plain-text string of safe characters, which is how images get embedded in CSS, how files ride inside JSON, and how data URLs work. This encoder converts text, files, and images to Base64 and back, with a URL-safe variant for use in links and tokens.
Developers use it to embed a small image as a data URI, decode a Base64 blob from an API, or encode credentials and payloads. Three tabs handle the common cases — paste text, upload a file, or drop in an image with a live preview — and the tool correctly handles UTF-8 so accented and non-Latin characters survive the round trip.
How to Use the Base64 Encoder / Decoder
- Pick a tab: Text, File, or Image.
- For text, choose Encode, Decode, or Auto and optionally tick URL-safe; for file or image, upload your file.
- Read the Base64 output (or decoded text), with a preview shown for images.
- Copy the result or download it.
Why Use ToolForge’s Base64 Encoder / Decoder
- Three modes — text, file, and image — cover encoding a string, a whole file, or an image with a live preview, in one tool.
- A URL-safe option swaps the characters that break in URLs and tokens, so the output drops straight into a link or JWT.
- It handles UTF-8 correctly, so accented and non-Latin text encodes and decodes without corruption.
- Files are read with the browser's FileReader and never uploaded, keeping your data private.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Base64 used for?
Base64 represents binary data as text, so it can travel through systems built for text — embedding images directly in HTML or CSS as data URIs, attaching files in JSON or email, and encoding tokens. It is encoding, not encryption, so it does not secure data.
What is URL-safe Base64?
Standard Base64 uses + and / characters and = padding, which have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces + with -, / with _, and drops the padding, so the string can be used safely in a URL or a JWT. Tick the URL-safe option to produce it.
Does Base64 make my data secure?
No. Base64 is reversible by anyone — it only changes the representation, not the secrecy. Never treat Base64 as encryption; if you need to protect data, encrypt it before encoding.
Why is my decoded text garbled?
Usually the input was not valid Base64, or it was URL-safe Base64 decoded without the URL-safe option (or vice versa). Make sure the mode matches how the data was encoded; this tool handles UTF-8 correctly when the input is valid.
