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Online Base64 Encoder & Decoder

By Daniel DeGroff

Online Base64 Encoder & Decoder

Base64 encoder and decoder

Use our online tool to encode and decode Base64 data.

Type or paste a text into the text area above and the text will be base64 Encoded as you type
Type or paste base64 encoded text into the text area above and the text will be base64 Decoded as you type

What Is Base64 encoding?

Base64 encoding is a popular method used to encode binary data, particularly when this data needs to be stored or transferred over media designed to manage text. Its primary function is to ensure that the encoded data remains intact, without modification during transport. It’s a method often seen in numerous applications, including email via MIME and storing complex data in XML or JSON.

Base64 is a term for a group of similar encoding schemes that encode binary data by treating it numerically and translating it into a base-64 representation. The term “Base64” originates from a specific MIME-content transfer encoding.

How does Base64 work?

The Base64 encoding process involves the conversion of binary data into a set of 64 different characters - A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and / are the standard set. These characters represent the data in an ASCII string format, making it safer for transport over systems designed for text. For example, in the Base64 scheme, the word Man is encoded as TWFu. The letters M, a, and n are stored as the bytes 77, 97, 110, which are equivalent to binary representations 01001101, 01100001, and 01101110. These three bytes are joined in a 24-bit buffer producing a binary sequence. Groups of 6 bits are converted into 4 numbers (24 = 4 * 6 bits), which are then converted into their corresponding Base64 values.

Base64 and Java

In Java, Base64 encoding is commonly used when there is a need to encode binary data, particularly when that data needs to be stored and transferred over media designed to deal with text. This ensures that the data remains intact without modification during transport. Here’s how it relates to Java:

Base64 and OAuth

Base64 encoding is often used in the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework, specifically in the process of issuing and handling tokens. Here are the key ways it is used:

By using Base64 encoding, OAuth 2.0 can safely transmit data across networks and systems that are designed to handle text, ensuring the integrity of the data and making it suitable for use in URLs, headers, and other HTTP components.Security & privacy

Base64 encoding is an essential tool in data management, particularly when dealing with systems designed to handle text. Understanding how it works and how to use it can greatly assist in tasks like email communication, data storage, and handling complex data in XML or JSON formats.