Base32 Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode Base32 in various formats: standard (RFC 4648), Base32-Hex, z-base-32, and Crockford's Base32.
Alphabet Reference
Variant Details
- • Standard: RFC 4648 - uses A-Z, 2-7, padding with =
- • Hex: RFC 4648 Extended Hex - uses 0-9, A-V, preserves sort order
- • z-base-32: Human-friendly, avoids similar chars (0/O, 1/l/I)
- • Crockford: Designed for easy reading, I/L→1, O→0 on decode
Puzzle Tips
- • Base32 uses only uppercase letters and some digits
- • Standard Base32 never has 0, 1, 8, or 9
- • Look for = padding at the end (up to 6 chars)
- • Crockford variant is common in short codes
What is Base32?
Base32 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using 32 different ASCII characters. It's similar to Base64 but uses fewer characters, making it more suitable for case-insensitive systems.
Base32 Variants
Standard Base32 (RFC 4648)
Uses uppercase A-Z and digits 2-7 (avoiding 0, 1, 8, 9 which could be confused with letters). Padding uses the = character.
Base32-Hex
Uses 0-9 and A-V. Preserves the lexicographic sort order of the original data when encoded.
z-base-32
Human-oriented variant that avoids easily confused characters. Uses lowercase and omits characters like 0/O and 1/l/I.
Crockford's Base32
Designed by Douglas Crockford for easy reading and speaking. Allows ambiguous characters on decode (O→0, I/L→1).
Base32 vs Base64
- Base32: 32 chars, ~60% larger output, case-insensitive
- Base64: 64 chars, ~33% larger output, case-sensitive
Common Uses
- TOTP codes: Two-factor authentication secrets
- Onion addresses: Tor hidden services (v2)
- File hashes: Content-addressable storage
- Geocaching: Puzzle caches with encoded coordinates
Related Encodings
- Base64: More efficient, case-sensitive encoding.
- Base16 (Hex): Simple hexadecimal encoding.
- ASCII85: More efficient for binary data.