File to Base64 Converter
Convert files to Base64 encoding or decode Base64 strings back to files. Perfect for embedding files in code or data URIs.
Upload File
Select a file to convert to Base64
Base64 Output
Base64 encoded representation of your file
Upload a file to see Base64 output
π‘ Common Uses
- β’ Embed images in HTML/CSS
- β’ Store binary data in JSON
- β’ Send files via API
- β’ Data URIs for web development
π Privacy
All conversions happen in your browser. Files are never uploaded to any server.
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About Base64 Encoding
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. It's commonly used to encode binary files for transmission over text-based protocols or for embedding in text formats like HTML, CSS, or JSON.
How Base64 Works
Base64 encoding converts binary data into a set of 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). Every 3 bytes of binary data is converted to 4 Base64 characters, which increases the data size by approximately 33%.
Common Use Cases
- Data URIs: Embed images directly in HTML/CSS without separate files
- Email Attachments: MIME encoding for email attachments
- API Requests: Send binary data in JSON payloads
- Web Development: Inline images, fonts, and other assets
- Database Storage: Store binary data in text fields
- Configuration Files: Embed binary data in XML or JSON configs
Data URI Format
When encoding files to Base64 for use in HTML/CSS, the output includes a data URI prefix:
data:[MIME-type];base64,[Base64-encoded-data]For example: data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KG...
Advantages
- Reduces HTTP requests by embedding files
- Works with text-only protocols
- No external file dependencies
- Easy to copy and paste
- Compatible with all text formats
Disadvantages
- Increases file size by ~33%
- Not human-readable
- Cannot be cached separately
- Larger HTML/CSS files
- Not suitable for very large files
Best Practices
- Use for small files (icons, small images)
- Avoid for large images or videos
- Consider caching implications
- Use external files for frequently updated content
- Test performance impact on page load
Example Usage in HTML
<img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANS..." alt="Logo" />Example Usage in CSS
background-image: url('data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANS...');