Developer3 min
When to use Base64 encoding and when not to
A practical guide to when Base64 encoding makes sense, when it does not, and how to weigh binary to text convenience against size overhead.
Use Base64 when binary data has to move through text systems
Base64 is useful when you need to carry binary data or mixed content through a system that expects plain text.
It is common in APIs, config values, email payloads, and debugging flows because it keeps data readable and transportable across text based tools.
Do not use Base64 when raw text or files can stay as they are
Base64 adds about 33 percent size overhead, so it is a poor choice when you only want storage efficiency or smaller transfers.
It does not protect data, so if you need secrecy use encryption, and if you need compact transport for binary data, consider a binary friendly format instead.