Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used to encode binary data, such as images or files, into a format that can be safely transmitted over text-based protocols like email or HTTP.

Common Use Cases

• Email Attachments: Encoding binary files for email transmission
• Data URLs: Embedding images or other binary data directly in HTML or CSS
• API Requests: Sending binary data in JSON or other text-based formats
• File Storage: Storing binary data in text-based storage systems

How Base64 Works

Base64 encoding works by:

1. Taking the input binary data and grouping it into 3-byte chunks
2. Converting each 3-byte chunk into 4 6-bit values
3. Mapping each 6-bit value to a character in the Base64 alphabet (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /)
4. Adding padding characters (=) if the input length is not divisible by 3

Best Practices

• Use for Binary Data: Base64 is most useful for encoding binary data that needs to be transmitted as text
• Handle Padding: Always include padding characters when encoding, and handle them properly when decoding
• URL Safety: Use URL-safe Base64 variants when encoding data for URLs
• File Types: Consider the file type when decoding to ensure proper handling of the output