Hex / Binary

Hex / Binary

Base64 to hex converter online. Convert Base64 to hexadecimal or binary representation and back. Free encoding conversion in your browser.

0 chars

Base64 Input

Hexadecimal Output

Use Cases

  • Hex: Viewing raw bytes, cryptographic hashes, memory addresses
  • Binary: Bit-level analysis, protocol debugging, embedded systems

Features

  • Convert Base64 to hexadecimal (hex)
  • Convert Base64 to binary representation
  • Reverse conversions (hex/binary to Base64)
  • Byte-by-byte visualization
  • Support for uppercase and lowercase hex
  • Copy hex or binary output with one click

Common Use Cases

  • Debug encoded data at the byte level
  • Convert Base64 hashes to hex format
  • Analyze binary protocols and file formats
  • Compare Base64 with hex representations
  • Extract raw bytes from Base64 strings

Base64, Hex, and Binary Representations

Base64, hexadecimal, and binary are different ways to represent the same binary data. Each has specific use cases and trade-offs.

Encoding comparisons:

  • Binary - Base-2 (0,1), directly shows bits, very verbose
  • Hexadecimal (Hex) - Base-16 (0-9, A-F), compact, human-readable
  • Base64 - Base-64 (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /), text-safe, compact

Example (text "Hi"):

  • Text: Hi
  • Binary: 01001000 01101001
  • Hex: 48 69
  • Base64: SGk=

When to use each: Use hex for debugging and hashes (MD5, SHA). Use Base64 for text transmission (URLs, JSON, email). Use binary for low-level analysis and bit manipulation.

Examples

Valid - Base64 to Hex conversion
Base64: SGVsbG8=
Hex: 48 65 6C 6C 6F
// "Hello" in hexadecimal bytes
Valid - Base64 to Binary conversion
Base64: SGVsbG8=
Binary: 01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111
// "Hello" as binary bits
Valid - Hex to Base64 conversion
Hex: 48656c6c6f
Base64: SGVsbG8=
// "Hello" converted from hex to Base64

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Base64 and hex?

Base64 uses 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) and is more compact than hex. Hexadecimal (hex) uses 16 characters (0-9, A-F) and represents each byte as 2 hex digits. Hex is more human-readable; Base64 is more efficient for transmission.

Why convert Base64 to hex for hashes?

Cryptographic hashes like MD5 and SHA-256 are traditionally displayed in hex format. Converting Base64-encoded hashes to hex makes them recognizable and comparable with standard hash databases and documentation.

Is binary representation useful for anything practical?

Yes! Binary is essential for bit manipulation, understanding binary protocols, analyzing file formats at the byte level, and debugging network packets. It shows the exact bits being transmitted or stored.

Can I convert hex to Base64 if hex has spaces?

Yes! Most tools ignore spaces in hex input. Hex is often formatted with spaces for readability (e.g., 48 65 6C). The tool removes spaces before conversion, treating 48656C and 48 65 6C identically.

Why is Base64 more compact than hex?

Base64 encodes 6 bits per character (26=64), while hex encodes 4 bits per character (24=16). For the same data, Base64 is ~33% shorter than hex. Example: 3 bytes → 4 Base64 chars vs. 6 hex chars.