Decode Base64

What's the decoded value of ZW5naW5lZXJpbmc=?

The Base64 decoded value of ZW5naW5lZXJpbmc= is engineering.

What is a Base64?

Base64 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into a text format using 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, and /). It's commonly used to transfer data over text-based protocols like email or JSON, ensuring that binary data remains intact by representing it as readable text.

How does decoding work?

Each Base64 character is converted to its 6-bit binary form, which is then combined to recreate the original binary data. The decoder processes the encoded text in 4-character chunks (each chunk representing 24 bits), converts it back to binary, and reconstructs the output. Any padding characters (=) added during encoding are removed, and any extra bits are ignored. The output is then UTF-8 encoded.

Example Decoding: ZG9n

1. Map to Binary: Convert each Base64 character of ZG9n to binary according to the table below:
   Z = 011001, G = 000110, 9 = 111101, and n = 100111.

2. Combine 6-Bit Chunks: Join the 6-bit segments into a single 24-bit binary string:
   011001000110111101100111.

3. Split into 8-Bit Bytes: Divide the binary string into 8-bit segments and decode them using an ASCII Table: 01100100 = d, 01101111 = o, 01100111 = g

4. Result: The Base64 decoding of ZG9n is dog.

Base64 Encoding Table (RFC 4648)

The Base64 alphabet contains 64 characters that map 6-bit binary blocks to ASCII characters. There are several Base64 variants, with the most widely used being RFC 4648, which is also the standard used on this site. Each binary block is shown as a decimal number for easier reference. To convert decimal numbers to binary, you can use a Binary Converter.