Base32 Encoder/Decoder
Encode text to Base32 and decode Base32 back to text instantly.
How to use
Enter your text
Type or paste the text you want to encode, or a Base32 string you want to decode.
Choose direction
Click 'Encode to Base32' to convert text, or 'Decode from Base32' to convert Base32 back to text.
Copy the result
Click the copy button to copy the encoded or decoded result to your clipboard.
Use cases
Encoding binary data
"Base32 is used in TOTP/HOTP secret keys for two-factor authentication apps."
Case-insensitive encoding
"Unlike Base64, Base32 uses only uppercase letters and digits 2-7, making it ideal for case-insensitive systems."
DNS and file names
"Base32 encoded strings are safe for DNS labels and file names since they avoid special characters."
Frequently Asked Questions
?What is Base32 encoding?
Base32 is an encoding scheme that converts binary data into a text format using 32 ASCII characters (A-Z and 2-7). It is defined in RFC 4648 and is commonly used in systems that require case-insensitive encoding.
?What is the difference between Base32 and Base64?
Base32 uses a 32-character alphabet (A-Z, 2-7) while Base64 uses 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). Base32 output is about 20% larger than Base64, but it is case-insensitive and avoids characters that could be confused in certain contexts.
?Why are the characters 0, 1, 8, and 9 not used in Base32?
These digits are excluded to avoid confusion with letters O, I, B, and g. This makes Base32 more human-readable and less error-prone when transcribing manually.
?What are the '=' signs at the end of Base32 output?
The '=' characters are padding to ensure the encoded output length is a multiple of 8 characters. This is required by the RFC 4648 standard for proper decoding.
?Is this Base32 tool safe and private?
Yes. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server, making it safe for processing sensitive information.