URL encoding vs Base64: when to use each one
Compare URL encoding and Base64 to choose the right option for query strings, payloads, redirects and API data.
Use URL encoding for URLs and Base64 for text transport
URL encoding, also called percent encoding, keeps unsafe characters valid inside a URL. It is the right choice when you build query strings, path segments, redirect targets or any link that must stay readable by browsers and servers.
Base64 solves a different problem. It turns binary or structured data into a text format that can move through systems that expect plain text, which is why it is common in API payloads, headers and stored tokens.
Choose by context, not by habit
For query strings and redirect parameters, use URL encoding because the destination is a URL. For API payloads or fields that must carry raw bytes as text, use Base64 because the destination is a text based transport layer, not a URL.
If you are unsure, ask what the receiving system expects. URL encoding preserves URL meaning, while Base64 preserves data content in text form. They are not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one often creates broken links or unreadable payloads.