What is the difference between Base64 encoding and decoding?

Short answer: Base64 encoding converts bytes or text into an ASCII-safe representation. Decoding converts that Base64 text back into the original bytes or string.

Steps

1. Encode when data must travel through text-only systems.
2. Decode when you need to inspect the original content.
3. Check whether the input is plain text, binary, image, or a data URL.
4. Avoid confusing Base64 with encryption; it is reversible encoding.

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