Online Image to Base64 Converter

Upload an image to generate Base64 code with one click, or paste an existing Base64 string to restore it as an image. Simple and efficient for daily use and development.

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All conversions between images and Base64 are performed locally in your browser. Your images are not uploaded to the server.

You can paste either a full data URI with data:image/...;base64, prefix or a plain Base64 string. The tool will try to handle both.

Why use an online image to Base64 converter?

Base64 is a common text encoding scheme that converts binary data into a readable string. For images, this allows binary image data to be embedded directly into HTML, CSS, JSON, configuration files or documentation without separate file requests.

By converting an image to Base64, you can embed it as a data URI like data:image/png;base64,... and place it directly inside web pages or stylesheets. This is convenient for tiny icons, inline logos, small placeholders or demo snippets used in tutorials and API docs.

However, Base64 encoded data is usually about 30% larger than the original binary size, so it is not suitable for large photos or many heavy images. A practical strategy is to only encode small UI assets in Base64 while keeping big images as normal static files.

This tool supports two-way conversion between images and Base64, with all processing done entirely in your browser. No software installation or server-side processing is required, making it a safe and quick option for developers and regular users.

Q&A: Quick facts about images and Base64 encoding

1. What is Base64 encoding?

Base64 is a method of encoding binary data into a text string using only readable characters, commonly used for transmitting or storing binary files in text-based systems.

2. What are typical use cases of converting images to Base64?

Typical use cases include embedding small icons in HTML or CSS, attaching screenshots directly inside JSON or configuration files, and bundling example images in API or Markdown documentation.

3. Does Base64 encoding make image files bigger or smaller?

It usually makes them bigger, typically by about 30% compared with the original binary size.

4. What does the data:image/png;base64, prefix mean?

It is the beginning of a data URI that tells the browser the media type is a PNG image and that the following part is Base64 encoded data.

5. Can using Base64 images improve page load speed?

For a few very small images, embedding them as Base64 may reduce the number of HTTP requests and slightly speed up loading. For many or large images it can have the opposite effect.

6. Why can this tool work without uploading images to the server?

Because it uses browser APIs such as FileReader to read files and generate Base64 directly on your device, so no server-side processing is involved.

7. When is it better to keep images as regular files instead of Base64?

When images are large, numerous, frequently updated or need good caching behavior, regular files served by a CDN are generally a better choice than Base64.

8. Is it okay to paste only raw Base64 content without the data:image/... prefix?

Yes. This tool can automatically prepend a default data:image/png;base64, prefix to help restore the image.

9. Does Base64 encoding change the quality of an image?

No. Base64 simply encodes existing binary data and does not alter resolution, compression level or quality.

10. What advantages does this online converter have over writing custom scripts?

You do not need to write any code or command-line scripts. Just drop an image or paste a string and you immediately get usable Base64 or a preview image, which saves time and reduces errors.

Image to Base64 Online Tool

Quickly turn images into Base64 strings or restore Base64 back to visible images.

Scan the QR code on mobile to use this tool anywhere.