Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?

No. Base64 is just a reversible way to represent binary or text data using 64 printable characters — anyone can decode it instantly with no key required. It's meant for safely transmitting data through text-only channels, not for keeping it secret.

Why does decoding fail with an error?

Decoding fails if the input isn't valid Base64 — for example, it contains characters outside A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /, = or has incorrect padding. Copy the Base64 string exactly, including any trailing = padding characters.

Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to text.

How this is calculated

Encode: UTF-8 bytes → Base64; Decode: Base64 → UTF-8 bytes → text

Assumptions used in this calculation

Text encoding: Text is treated as UTF-8 before encoding, so non-ASCII characters (accents, emoji, etc.) round-trip correctly.

About this calculator

The Base64 encoder/decoder converts text to and from Base64 encoding, with full UTF-8 support for non-ASCII characters.

Worked example

Encode 'Hello, World!'

Result: SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==

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Frequently asked questions

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Base64 Encoder/Decoder

About this calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?

Why does decoding fail with an error?

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