Base64 turns bytes into characters that travel easily through text-oriented systems. It is useful for a small data field or a debugging example, but anyone with the encoded string can decode it. It provides neither encryption nor proof that the content is safe.
Encoding also makes data larger—roughly a third larger before any surrounding format—and is not a compression method. Do not use Base64 to conceal passwords, tokens, private files, or sensitive messages. Use appropriate encryption and access controls for secrecy; use hashes or signatures for integrity where required.
Akousa's Base64 tool is fine for non-sensitive examples, and decoding should always be followed by validation of the resulting data.
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