Encode & Decode Tool

Seamlessly switch between text formats with one click

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About Encoding/Decoding Formats

Base64

Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data in an ASCII string format. Commonly used for encoding data in emails, embedding binary files in text documents, and encoding authentication credentials.

URL Encoding

URL encoding converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. It replaces unsafe ASCII characters with "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. Essential for passing parameters in URLs.

Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal (base-16) is a numerical system widely used in computing and mathematics. Each byte (8 bits) is represented by two hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F). Commonly used for memory addresses, color codes, and binary data representation.

ASCII Codes

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a character encoding standard that assigns numerical values to letters, digits, punctuation marks, and control characters. Each character is represented by a 7-bit number (0-127).

UTF-16

UTF-16 (16-bit Unicode Transformation Format) is a character encoding capable of encoding all 1,112,064 valid code points of Unicode. It uses one or two 16-bit code units to represent each code point.

Binary

Binary encoding represents text or data using the binary number system's two binary digits: 0 and 1. Each character is represented by a sequence of 8 bits (1 byte) in standard ASCII encoding.

Morse Code

Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations (dots and dashes). Originally developed for telegraphy, still used in amateur radio.

SHA-256 Hash

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash value. It's widely used in security applications and protocols including TLS, SSL, PGP, SSH, and Bitcoin.

FAQs About Encoding & Decoding Formats

1. What is encoding and decoding?

Encoding converts data into a specific format for transmission or storage, while decoding reverses it back to its original form. These processes ensure compatibility, security, and efficient data handling.

2. When should I use Base64 encoding?
✅ Use for:
  • Embedding binary data (e.g., images) in text formats (JSON, XML, emails).
  • Encoding credentials in HTTP Authorization headers.
❌ Avoid for:
  • Sensitive data (not encryption; easily decoded).
3. Why is URL encoding necessary?

URLs can only contain certain characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~). URL encoding replaces unsafe characters (e.g., spaces → %20) to ensure proper transmission in web addresses.

4. What's the difference between ASCII and UTF-16?
ASCII UTF-16
7-bit (128 characters) 16-bit (supports 1+ million Unicode chars)
English-only Supports emojis, global scripts (Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
5. Why is hexadecimal used in computing?
  • Compact representation: 1 byte (8 bits) = 2 hex digits (e.g., FF = 255).
  • Common uses: Memory addresses, color codes (e.g., #FFFFFF), debugging binary data.
6. Is Morse code still relevant?
✅ Yes, but limited to:
  • Amateur radio communication.
  • Emergency signals (SOS = ··· --- ···).
7. MD5 vs. SHA-256: Which is more secure?
MD5 SHA-256
128-bit hash 256-bit hash
Broken (collision attacks) Cryptographically secure
Use for checksums Use for passwords, blockchain, TLS
8. Can binary data be read directly by humans?
❌ No—it's machine-readable (e.g., 01101000 01101001 = "hi"). Tools convert binary to text (ASCII/Unicode) or hex for readability.
9. How do I choose the right encoding format?
  • Text/URLs: URL encoding.
  • Binary in text: Base64.
  • Security: SHA-256 (not MD5).
  • Global text: UTF-16 or UTF-8.
10. Are these formats reversible?
  • Reversible: Base64, URL encoding, ASCII, UTF-16, binary.
  • One-way (hashes): MD5, SHA-256 (cannot decode hashes; only verify matches).

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