Base64 Encoding vs URL Encoding: When to Use Each

Base64 and URL encoding both make data safer to transport, but they solve different problems.

Base64 encoding

Base64 converts binary or text data into a limited character set. It is useful for tokens, small payloads, and embedding data where raw bytes are not accepted.

URL encoding

URL encoding escapes characters that have special meaning in URLs. Use it for query parameters, redirect URLs, and campaign links.

Simple rule

If the value is going inside a URL, URL encode it. If the value needs to travel through a text-only channel, Base64 may be appropriate.