Base32 Encode and Decode

Encode text to Base32 or decode Base32 to text using RFC 4648. Case-insensitive, in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Independently verified for accuracy

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Encode text to Base32 or decode Base32 back to text, following the RFC 4648 standard. Base32 uses only the letters A to Z and the digits 2 to 7, so it survives case-insensitive systems and is easy to read aloud. Common in TOTP secret keys and some file and email encodings.

How this is calculated

Follows RFC 4648. Encoding groups the UTF-8 bytes of the text into five-bit chunks and maps each to the standard 32-character alphabet, padding the output with "=" to a multiple of eight characters. Decoding reverses that and is case-insensitive, ignoring surrounding whitespace.

How to use

  1. Choose encode or decode.
  2. Paste your text or Base32 string.
  3. Copy the result from the output box.

Examples

  • Encode: Hello becomes JBSWY3DP
  • Decode: MZXW6YTBOI====== becomes foobar

FAQ

How is Base32 different from Base64?
Base32 uses a smaller alphabet of 26 letters and 6 digits, so it is case-insensitive and easier to type or read aloud, at the cost of longer output than Base64.
Why does the output end in equals signs?
The "=" characters are padding that round the output up to a multiple of eight characters, as required by RFC 4648. They carry no data.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. Encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser, so nothing is sent to a server.

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