Base64 Encoder/Decoder

What Is Base64?

Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into ASCII text. It's used wherever binary data needs to be stored or transmitted in a text-only format.

Common uses:

• Email attachments (MIME encoding)
• Embedding images in HTML/CSS as data URIs
• Passing binary data in JSON API payloads
• Basic authentication headers (Authorization: Basic <base64>)
• JWT payload encoding

Base64 vs Encryption

Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode it with no key. Never use Base64 to "secure" sensitive data — use proper encryption (AES-256, RSA) for that.

URL-Safe Base64

Standard Base64 uses + and / characters that have special meaning in URLs. URL-safe Base64 replaces these with - and _, and is used in:

• JWT tokens
• OAuth state parameters
• Signed URL tokens

In Automation Workflows

Base64 comes up frequently when:

• Sending binary files via REST APIs
• Decoding webhook payloads
• Working with email APIs (SendGrid, AWS SES) that Base64-encode attachments

If you're working with JWTs specifically, the JWT Decoder picks the payload apart directly. For debugging a full webhook payload rather than just an encoded fragment, see Make.com Webhook Tutorial or Python FastAPI Webhook Automation.