Base64 Encode String

What is Base64 String Encoding?

Base64 string encoding converts text strings into Base64 format, a binary-to-text encoding scheme. This tool specifically focuses on encoding text strings (as opposed to binary files) with full UTF-8 support, making it perfect for encoding text data for APIs, configuration files, and web applications.

Why Encode Strings to Base64?

Base64 string encoding serves multiple purposes:

• API Authentication: Encode credentials and tokens for HTTP Basic Authentication headers
• Data URIs: Embed text data directly in HTML/CSS without separate requests
• Configuration Storage: Store sensitive strings in text-based configuration files
• Email Transmission: Encode text content for safe email transmission
• URL Safety: Create URL-safe encoded strings for web applications

Common Use Cases

API Header Encoding

Encode username:password combinations or API tokens for Basic Authentication headers. Many REST APIs require Base64-encoded credentials.

Data URI Creation

Convert text strings to Base64 for embedding in data URIs. Useful for embedding small text files, JSON data, or other text content directly in HTML.

Configuration File Encoding

Encode sensitive strings like API keys, passwords, or tokens in configuration files. Base64 encoding makes these values safe to store in text files.

Email Content Encoding

Encode text content for email transmission. Email systems use Base64 encoding to handle special characters and ensure reliable transmission.

Web Application Security

Encode strings before storing in cookies, localStorage, or URL parameters. Base64 encoding helps prevent issues with special characters.

Base64 String Encoding Features

Our tool provides:

• UTF-8 Support: Full support for international characters, emojis, and Unicode
• Chunking Options: Format output with 64 or 76 character chunks for MIME compatibility
• Real-time Encoding: See encoded output instantly as you type
• Size Calculation: View the size overhead of Base64 encoding (typically 33% increase)
• Copy & Download: Easily copy encoded strings or download as text files

Base64 Encoding Process

The encoding process:

1. Text Input: Enter your text string (supports UTF-8 characters)
2. Character Encoding: Text is converted to UTF-8 bytes
3. Base64 Conversion: Bytes are converted to Base64 characters
4. Chunking: Optional formatting with line breaks for readability
5. Output: Base64-encoded string ready for use

Base64 vs Other Encoding Methods

• Base64 vs URL Encoding: Base64 handles binary data, URL encoding only handles ASCII
• Base64 vs Hex: Base64 is more space-efficient (33% overhead vs 100% for hex)
• Base64 vs Plain Text: Base64 is text-safe and URL-safe, plain text may contain special characters

Best Practices

• UTF-8 Encoding: Our tool handles UTF-8 correctly, including international characters
• Chunk Size: Use 76-character chunks for MIME email compatibility
• Security Note: Base64 is encoding, not encryption—don't use for security
• Size Consideration: Base64 increases size by ~33%, consider compression for large strings
• Validation: Always validate encoded strings before using in production

Privacy and Security

Our Base64 String Encoder processes all text entirely in your browser. No strings are sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy for sensitive information like API keys and credentials.

Related Tools

If you need to work with Base64 in other ways, check out:

• Base64 Decode String: Convert Base64 back to original text
• Base64 Encode: Encode files and binary data to Base64
• URL Encoder: Encode strings for URLs