Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Base64 encoding and the Decodedly tool.
What is Base64 encoding?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It converts binary data into a set of 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, + and /) which can be safely transported across systems that may interpret certain characters in binary data as control characters.
Learn more in our wiki →When should I use Base64 encoding?
Base64 encoding is useful in many scenarios:
- When you need to send binary data through text-only systems like email
- For embedding image data directly in HTML or CSS
- When storing complex data in JSON format
- When working with data URIs in web applications
- For encoding data in JWT (JSON Web Tokens)
Is Base64 a form of encryption?
No, Base64 is not encryption. It is simply an encoding format that transforms data from one format to another. It does not provide any security or data protection. Anyone can decode Base64 encoded data without a key or password.
Why does Base64 encoded data end with = sometimes?
The = signs at the end of Base64 encoded strings are padding characters. Since Base64 encodes 3 bytes of data into 4 characters, if the original data length is not divisible by 3, padding is added to make the encoded data length a multiple of 4.
Is my data sent to your servers when using Decodedly?
No. Decodedly processes all encoding and decoding operations directly in your browser. Your data never leaves your device and is not stored on our servers. This ensures maximum privacy and security for your sensitive information.
Can Decodedly handle large files?
Yes, Decodedly can handle large files, but performance will depend on your device's capabilities. Since all processing happens in your browser, very large files might cause your browser to become less responsive.
What's the difference between Base64, Base32, and Base16?
These formats differ in the character set they use:
| Encoding | Characters | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Base64 | A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, / | Most space-efficient, case-sensitive |
| Base32 | A-Z, 2-7 | Case-insensitive, avoids similar characters |
| Base16 (Hex) | 0-9, A-F | Most human-readable, least space-efficient |
Still have questions?
Check our Base64 Wiki for more information or contact us directly.