What is Base32 Encoding?
Base32 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that represents binary data using a set of 32 ASCII characters (A-Z and 2-7). It is defined in RFC 4648 and is commonly used in TOTP (time-based one-time passwords), secret keys, and systems where case-insensitive encoding is needed.
Base32 vs Base64
Base32 uses a smaller alphabet than Base64 (32 characters vs 64), making it about 20% less space-efficient. However, Base32 is case-insensitive and avoids characters that can be confused (like 0/O and 1/l), making it better for manual entry and spoken communication.
How to Use This Tool
Paste your text into the input box and click "Encode to Base32" to convert it. To decode, paste Base32-encoded text and click "Decode from Base32". The result appears instantly in the output box.