Base64 turns binary data into text using a limited set of characters. Developers use it when data needs to travel through systems that expect plain text.

Common uses

Base64 appears in data URLs, API payloads, basic authentication headers, email attachments, and quick test fixtures. It is convenient because the encoded output is easy to copy and paste.

Base64 is not encryption

Encoding does not hide information. Anyone can decode Base64 text back to the original bytes. Do not treat Base64 as a security boundary.

When to decode

Decode Base64 when you need to inspect an API value, verify a data URL, or confirm that a payload contains the expected text.

Practical tip

If decoded output looks broken, check whether the original data was binary rather than plain text. Images, archives, and compressed payloads may not display as readable strings.