Base64 Encoding Explained — Quick Guide
Understand Base64 encoding: how it works, when to use it, and common use cases in web development. Free online encoder and decoder.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format using 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). It is commonly used to embed binary data in text-based formats like JSON, HTML, and URLs.
The encoding process converts every 3 bytes of binary data into 4 ASCII characters. When the input is not a multiple of 3 bytes, padding characters (=) are added.
Common Use Cases
Embedding images directly in HTML/CSS as data URIs: 'data:image/png;base64,...'
Storing binary file content in JSON APIs for file uploads.
Encoding authentication credentials in HTTP Basic Auth headers.
Email attachments in MIME format (base64 encoded).
Generating data URLs for small assets to reduce HTTP requests.