🔐 What is Base64 Encoding?

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used to transfer data over media that are designed to deal with textual data.

💡 Common Use Cases

• 🖼 Embedding image or file data in HTML or CSS
• 📧 Email transfer (MIME encoding)
• 🔐 Encoding user credentials in basic HTTP authentication
• 🗃 Storing binary in JSON or XML safely

⚙️ How It Works

Base64 converts binary data (such as images or documents) into a string using 64 ASCII characters: A–Z, a–z, 0–9, +, and /. Padding with `=` is added at the end to make the output a multiple of 4.

🔁 Encode vs Decode

• Encode: Converts readable text or binary into Base64 string
• Decode: Converts Base64 string back into the original format

🛡️ Is It Secure?

No. Base64 is not an encryption algorithm — it's simply an encoding method. It does not provide security and should not be used for sensitive data protection.

🧠 Did You Know?

• ⚠️ You can decode Base64 using browser’s built-in `atob()` function
• 🌐 It’s used behind the scenes in JWT (JSON Web Token)
• 📦 Some APIs return Base64 to simplify file transmission

🔗 Related Tools

• 📎 JSON Formatter & Fixer – Beautify and repair JSON
• 🆔 UUID Generator – Generate unique identifiers
• 📐 PX to REM Converter – Typography made consistent