Base64 to Image Decoder & Viewer
Paste any raw Base64 string or Data URI to render the image in real time and download it back as a high-resolution PNG, JPG, or SVG file.
Live Visual Media & Payload Inspector
Auto-DetectClick to Browse or Drag & Drop Any File
Upload any image (PNG, JPG, SVG, WebP, GIF), audio (MP3, WAV), PDF, or JSON payload to preview and encode instantly.
PDF Document Ready
Base64 PDF stream loaded in memory
Developer Code Snippet Generator
// Select an option above to generate codeFrequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know About Base64
Quick answers to the most common questions about Base64 encoding, decoding, file sizes, URL safety, and image conversions.
What is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that converts binary data (such as files, images, or byte arrays) into a sequence of 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /). It is formally defined in IETF specification RFC 4648.
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 encoding is the process of taking 8-bit binary bytes (or plain text strings) and translating them into 6-bit units. Each 6-bit unit maps to one of 64 standard ASCII characters, ensuring binary data can be safely transmitted over text-only protocols like email (MIME), HTTP headers, and JSON APIs without character corruption.
How does Base64 encoding work?
Base64 takes 3 bytes of binary data (24 bits in total) and splits them into 4 groups of 6 bits each (4 × 6 = 24 bits). Each 6-bit integer (value 0 to 63) corresponds to an ASCII character in the Base64 index table. If the input data is not an exact multiple of 3 bytes, padding characters (=) are added at the end.
How do I encode a string to Base64?
You can encode a string to Base64 instantly online by typing or pasting your text into our free Base64 encoder tool. In JavaScript, use btoa(string); in Python, base64.b64encode(string.encode('utf-8')); and in Linux CLI, echo -n 'text' | base64.
How do I decode a Base64 string?
You can decode a Base64 string back to its original plain text or binary file by pasting the Base64 string into our tool's input box with Auto-Detect or Decode mode enabled. In JavaScript, use atob(base64String); in Python, base64.b64decode(base64String).decode('utf-8'); and in Linux CLI, echo 'base64String' | base64 -d.
What is the difference between Base64 and Base64URL?
Standard Base64 uses '+' and '/' with '=' padding, which require URL encoding (%2B and %2F) when placed in URLs. Base64URL substitutes '+' with '-' and '/' with '_', and removes all '=' padding, making it 100% URL-safe, cookie-safe, and token-safe (JWT) out of the box.
How do I convert an image to Base64?
To convert an image to Base64, simply drag and drop your image file (PNG, JPG, SVG, WebP, or GIF) into our online tool's inspector dropzone. The tool instantly generates a Base64 Data URI in your browser with 1-click buttons to copy the raw string, HTML <img> tag, or CSS snippet.
Is Base64 encryption, and is Base64 secure?
No, Base64 is NOT encryption and provides zero cryptographic security. Base64 is simply an encoding format designed for data transmission compatibility. Anyone who intercepts a Base64 string can decode it back to the original plaintext in milliseconds without a password or key. Never use Base64 alone to protect sensitive passwords or secret keys.