Base64 Encoding Is Not Encryption: When to Use It Safely
2026-05-04
Why Base64 is only a transport-friendly representation, common misuse cases, and how to handle secrets properly.
Base64 turns binary into printable text so it can travel through JSON, email, or URLs—it does not hide data from anyone who sees the string.
Do not store passwords or API keys in Base64 alone; attackers decode it instantly without a key.
Good uses include data URLs for small assets, MIME attachments, and embedding binary in text-only configs.
For confidentiality, pair transport encoding with real encryption and key management, not Base64 by itself.