Base32 Encoder/Decoder
Convert text to and from Base32 (RFC 4648) instantly, right in your browser — nothing ever leaves your device.
🔒 Processed locally in your browser
Loading…
How to use
- Choose Encode or Decode using the mode toggle above.
- In Encode mode, type or paste any text into the input box.
- In Decode mode, paste a Base32-encoded string instead.
- The result updates instantly below — use Copy to copy it, or Reset to clear.
Features
- Encodes text to standard RFC 4648 Base32, and decodes it back
- Updates live as you type — no button to press
- Handles Unicode text correctly, including emoji and CJK characters
- Shows a clear error message for invalid Base32 input instead of garbage output
- 100% client-side — your text never leaves your browser
Frequently asked questions
What is Base32 encoding?
Base32 is a way of representing binary data using only 32 printable characters (A–Z and 2–7), defined by RFC 4648. It's less compact than Base64 but uses an alphabet that's safe for case-insensitive systems.
How is Base32 different from Base64?
Base64 uses 64 characters, including lowercase, uppercase, digits, and symbols like + and /, and is more compact. Base32 uses only uppercase letters and digits 2–7, is case-insensitive, and avoids characters that cause problems in filenames, URLs, and voice-read codes — at the cost of a longer output.
Where is Base32 commonly used?
Base32 is widely used for TOTP/2FA secret keys (like those in Google Authenticator), DNS record names, and filesystem- or human-friendly identifiers where case sensitivity or special characters would cause problems.
Why does the encoded output end with = signs?
Base32 encodes data in 5-byte blocks that produce 8 characters each. When the input length isn't a multiple of 5 bytes, = padding characters are added so the output is always a multiple of 8 characters long.
Does this tool store or upload my data?
No. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is sent to a server or stored anywhere.