How to Use
Image → Base64: Upload or drag-and-drop an image to automatically encode it. You can copy the raw Base64 string or the full Data URI (useful for embedding directly in HTML or CSS).
Base64 → Image: Switch to the decode tab and paste a Base64 string. Click Decode to preview and download the converted image file.
What Is Base64?
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data as an ASCII string. It's commonly used to embed images directly in HTML, CSS, or JSON without needing separate image files. This is useful for small icons, email templates, and reducing HTTP requests. Note that Base64 strings are typically ~33% larger than the original binary data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Base64 data URI and when should I use it?
A data URI embeds the image directly in HTML or CSS as a Base64 string, removing the need for a separate HTTP request. It's useful for small icons, inline email images, and reducing request count in performance-critical pages.
Does converting an image to Base64 increase its size?
Yes. Base64 encodes 3 bytes as 4 characters, making the encoded string approximately 33% larger than the original binary file.
Can I decode any Base64 string back to an image?
You can decode any valid Base64-encoded image. The tool auto-detects common formats (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF) from the data URI prefix.
What is the difference between a raw Base64 string and a data URI?
A raw Base64 string is just the encoded bytes. A data URI prefixes it with data:<mime-type>;base64, so browsers can render it directly as an image source in HTML or CSS.
Does the tool upload my image to a server?
No. Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser. Your image is never transmitted anywhere.