Free tool

Base64 Encoder

Turn text or a file into a Base64 string.

Need to go the other way? Base64 decoder

Base64 turns arbitrary binary data into plain ASCII text, which is why it shows up wherever a text-only format has to carry binary content: embedding an image directly in CSS or HTML, attaching a file to an email, or passing bytes through an API or config file that only accepts strings.

Paste text or pick a file and the encoded string appears immediately, computed in this tab. Expect the result to be about a third larger than the input — that is the cost of using only 64 safe characters to represent every possible byte.

How to use it

  1. 01Choose Text to encode something you type, or File to encode a file.
  2. 02Paste the text, or pick the file.
  3. 03Copy the Base64 string that appears below.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Base64 output bigger than my input?

Base64 represents every 3 bytes with 4 text characters, so the output is roughly 33% larger, plus padding. That overhead is the price of being safe to put in text-only formats.

Is Base64 encryption?

No, and this matters: it is an encoding, not a cipher. Anyone can decode it instantly with no key — including with our own decoder. Never use it to protect a secret; use real encryption for that.

Can I encode an image to use in CSS or HTML?

Yes. Encode the image file here, then use it as a data URI: prefix the string with `data:image/png;base64,` (matching your image type). It saves a network request, at the cost of a larger stylesheet that can no longer be cached separately.

Is my file uploaded?

No. The conversion runs in this tab and the file never leaves your device — we operate no endpoint that could receive it. The page does count an anonymous “encoded a file” event, which carries nothing about the file.

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