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Encoding & Decoding Tools

Encode and decode text in multiple formats. Base64, URL encoding, binary, hexadecimal, and Unicode conversions for web development, APIs, and data transmission.

10 min read
Updated 2025-12-13

Text encoding transforms data into formats suitable for transmission, storage, or processing. Web developers encode URL parameters to handle special characters, APIs use Base64 for binary data in JSON, programmers work with binary and hexadecimal representations for low-level operations, and international applications handle Unicode character encoding.

These encoding tools process all common text encoding scenarios without command-line utilities or server uploads. Encode data for URLs, convert to Base64 for data URIs, work with binary representations, transform between hexadecimal formats, and handle Unicode to ASCII conversions for compatibility.

Perfect for web developers building APIs, software engineers handling data serialization, security professionals working with encoded credentials, and anyone processing international text. All encoding operations happen locally in your browser, keeping your data completely private.

How to Use These Tools

Step-by-step guidance and best practices for getting the most out of this collection

Base64 encoding converts binary data into ASCII text using 64 printable characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). This makes binary data safe for transmission over text-based protocols like JSON, XML, or HTTP headers. The Base64 Encoder increases data size by roughly 33% but ensures compatibility. Use Base64 for embedding images in CSS or HTML (data URIs), encoding binary files in JSON APIs, storing binary data in databases that only accept text, and transmitting encrypted data. The decoder reverses this process when retrieving the original binary data.

URL encoding (percent-encoding) converts special characters into percent signs followed by hexadecimal values, ensuring URLs remain valid. Spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, and non-ASCII characters get encoded. The URL Encoder handles query parameters, form data, and any text destined for URLs. This prevents characters with special meaning in URLs (?, &, =, #) from breaking parameter parsing. Always encode user input before adding it to URLs, especially search queries and form values.

Binary encoding represents text as sequences of 1s and 0s based on character codes. The Text to Binary Converter uses ASCII encoding where each character maps to an 8-bit binary number (01000001 for uppercase A). This helps understand how computers represent text internally, debug character encoding issues, and perform low-level data manipulation. Binary representation matters for bit manipulation, understanding character encoding, network protocol analysis, and educational purposes. The Binary to Text Converter reverses the process, converting binary strings back to readable text.

Hexadecimal encoding represents data using base-16 digits (0-9, A-F), providing a more compact representation than binary. Each hex digit represents 4 bits, so two hex digits represent one byte. The HEX to Base64 Converter bridges hexadecimal representations (common in cryptography, checksums, and low-level programming) with Base64 encoding (common in web APIs). Use this when converting cryptographic hashes for transmission, encoding checksums in JSON, or bridging systems that use different encoding schemes.

Unicode to ASCII conversion handles international characters by mapping them to ASCII equivalents or removing diacritics. The Unicode ASCII Converter transforms accented characters (é, ñ, ü) into ASCII approximations (e, n, u), making text compatible with ASCII-only systems. This matters for database migration, legacy system integration, URL slugs, file naming, and email compatibility. However, some meaning may be lost in conversion, especially for languages that do not map well to ASCII.

Understanding which encoding to use depends on your constraints. Use Base64 for binary data in text formats, URL encoding for web parameters, binary for educational or low-level work, hexadecimal for compact byte representation, and Unicode/ASCII conversion for internationalization. These encodings solve different problems and often work together in data pipelines.

Base64 Encoding

Encode binary data for text-based transmission

Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Encode or decode Base64 text instantly

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HEX to Base64 Converter

Convert between HEX and Base64 encodings

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Web Encoding

Handle URL and web parameter encoding

URL Encoder/Decoder

Encode or decode URL strings safely

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Binary & Number Systems

Convert between text and binary representations

Text to Binary Converter

Convert text to binary code with ASCII encoding

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Binary to Text Converter

Decode binary code to readable text instantly

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Character Set Conversion

Handle Unicode and ASCII encoding

Unicode to ASCII Converter

Convert Unicode to ASCII and vice versa

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Popular Workflows

Common ways professionals use these tools together

Encode Image as Data URI

  1. 1

    Convert image file to Base64

    Base64 Encoder/Decoder

  2. 2

    Embed Base64 in CSS or HTML

    Base64 Encoder/Decoder

Build Search Query URL

  1. 1

    Encode search term with special characters

    URL Encoder/Decoder

  2. 2

    Append encoded query to URL

    URL Encoder/Decoder

Debug Character Encoding

  1. 1

    Convert problematic text to binary

    Text to Binary Converter

  2. 2

    Identify incorrect character codes

    Text to Binary Converter

  3. 3

    Convert corrected binary back to text

    Binary to Text Converter

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use Base64 encoding?

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Use Base64 when transmitting binary data through text-only channels like JSON APIs, XML, email, or storing binary data in databases that only accept text. It is also essential for data URIs (embedding images in CSS/HTML), encoding files in API requests, and ensuring binary data survives text-based protocols without corruption.

Is URL encoding the same as HTML encoding?

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No. URL encoding (percent-encoding) is for URLs and query strings, replacing special characters with %XX codes. HTML encoding is for displaying text in HTML, converting characters like < to &lt;. They serve different purposes and use different encoding schemes. Use URL encoding for links and form submissions, HTML encoding for displaying user content safely.

Does Base64 encryption provide security?

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No. Base64 is encoding, not encryption. Anyone can decode Base64 instantly without a key. Never use Base64 alone for sensitive data. It prevents data corruption during transmission but provides zero security. For security, use proper encryption (AES, RSA) then optionally Base64-encode the encrypted result for transmission.

Why does Base64 increase file size?

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Base64 uses 6 bits per character but each character requires 8 bits to store, creating 33% overhead. Three bytes (24 bits) become four Base64 characters. This tradeoff ensures binary data works in text-only systems. The increased size is unavoidable and considered acceptable for compatibility benefits Base64 provides.

Can I encode special Unicode characters in URLs?

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Yes. URL encoding handles any Unicode character by converting it to UTF-8 bytes, then percent-encoding each byte. For example, the emoji 😀 becomes %F0%9F%98%80. The URL Encoder handles this automatically. Always encode user input containing international characters, emojis, or special symbols before adding to URLs.

What is UTF-8 encoding?

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UTF-8 is a character encoding that represents Unicode characters using 1-4 bytes per character. It is the standard for web content and handles all human languages plus symbols and emojis. ASCII characters use 1 byte (backward compatible), while international characters use more bytes. Most web tools assume UTF-8 encoding by default.

How do I fix character encoding issues?

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Character encoding problems appear as garbled text (�, , etc.). Fix by ensuring consistent encoding throughout your pipeline: save files as UTF-8, set database charset to UTF-8, specify charset in HTTP headers (Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8), and use UTF-8 in HTML meta tags. Use the Unicode converter to diagnose encoding mismatches.

Can I decode Base64 without special tools?

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Programming languages have built-in Base64 support (JavaScript: atob(), btoa(); Python: base64 module), and command-line tools exist (base64 on Linux/Mac). However, browser-based tools offer convenience without writing code, handle edge cases automatically, and provide visual feedback for validation. Choose based on your workflow and technical comfort.

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