TASK

Use CBOR encoding for compact binary JSON

CBOR (Concise Binary Object Representation, RFC 8949) is a binary serialization format for JSON-like data, smaller and faster than JSON.

1

CBOR encodes JSON-like data (objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, null) in binary. It is smaller than JSON (no quotes, no delimiters, compact integer encoding) and faster to parse (no text scanning). It also supports types JSON lacks: byte strings, dates, bignums.
2

Base64 Encoder →
After encoding data to CBOR (binary), encode the result as base64 for transport through text-only channels (HTTP, JSON fields, logs). The receiver decodes base64 to bytes, then decodes CBOR to the original data structure.
3

Base64 Decoder →
Decode the base64 to recover the CBOR bytes, then decode CBOR to the original data. This two-step process (base64 → CBOR → data) is common when CBOR must transit text-based protocols.
4

Use CBOR when: payload size matters (IoT, mobile), parsing speed is critical, or you need binary data (byte arrays) without base64 inflation. For web APIs, JSON is still the default — CBOR requires content negotiation (Accept: application/cbor). Use it for internal services and constrained environments.

Frequently asked questions

CBOR vs MessagePack?: Both are binary JSON formats. CBOR is an IETF standard (RFC 8949) with a richer type system (tags, simple values). MessagePack is faster but less extensible. Choose CBOR for standards compliance and extensibility; MessagePack for raw speed.
Is CBOR smaller than JSON?: Typically 20-50% smaller for the same data, depending on content. Strings and large integers benefit most. For data with many small integers or booleans, the savings are larger due to CBOR's compact integer encoding.

Workflows that solve this

Convert Ascii85 to Base64

Decode Ascii85 and re-encode as Base64 for wider compatibility.

Convert Base2048 to Base64

Decode Base2048 (emoji) and re-encode as Base64 for standard transport.

Convert Base32 to Base64

Decode a Base32-encoded string into raw bytes and re-encode as Base64 for more compact representation.

Convert Base58 to Base64

Decode Base58 and re-encode as Base64 for standard compatibility.

Base64 encode then decode round-trip

Encode text to Base64 and decode it back to verify the round-trip preserves the original data.

Convert Base64 to Base85

Decode Base64 and re-encode as Base85 for compact representation.

Convert Base64 to Hex

Decode a Base64 string into raw bytes and re-encode it as hexadecimal for inspection or interop.

Blowfish Encrypt then Base64

Blowfish encrypt then Base64-encode for text-safe transport.

Decode a Basic Auth credential pair

Decode the Base64 portion of an HTTP Basic Authorization header into username:password.

DES Encrypt then Base64

DES encrypt then Base64-encode for legacy compatibility.

Encode a JSON payload for URL transport

Prepare a JSON document for a URL parameter: pretty-print, Base64-encode, then percent-encode — the exact inverse of the nested-parameter decode chain.

AES encrypt then Base64 encode

Encrypt plaintext with AES and encode the ciphertext as Base64 for text-safe transport.

Hash content and encode as Base64

Compute a hash of the input and encode the hash digest as Base64 for compact transport.

Convert Hex to Base64

Decode a hexadecimal string into raw bytes and re-encode it as Base64 for compact transport.

HMAC Sign then Base64 Encode

Generate HMAC signature then Base64-encode for API auth headers.

Morse Encode and Base64 Transport

Encode text as Morse code then Base64-encode for digital transport.

Decode and format a JWT payload

Parse a JWT token, extract its payload, and format the JSON for inspection.

RC4 Encrypt then Base64

RC4 encrypt then Base64-encode for transport.

RIPEMD-160 Hash then Base64

Compute RIPEMD-160 hash then Base64-encode for transport.

Shuffle Text and Base64 Encode

Shuffle text characters then Base64-encode the result.

Unicode Escape and Base64 Encode

Unicode-escape text then Base64-encode for ASCII-safe transport.

URL Encode then Base64 Double Encode

URL-encode then Base64-encode for double encoding in API payloads.

Decode nested URL parameter (Base64 JSON)

Unwrap a URL parameter that carries URL-encoded Base64 JSON into readable, formatted JSON.

UUencode then Base64

UUencode text then Base64-encode the result for double encoding.

Generate UUID and Base64 Encode

Generate a UUID then Base64-encode it for compact storage.

Learn more

Want to understand why?

Base64 vs Base32 vs Base58

Compare three popular base-encoding schemes and learn when to choose each one.

Base64: how it works and when to use it

The byte-to-character mechanics behind Base64, why padding exists, which alphabet variants you will meet, and the boundaries where Base64 is the wrong tool.

Base128 maps binary data onto 128 ASCII characters, carrying 7 bits of payload per byte for an expansion of about 8/7.

Base64 maps arbitrary binary data onto 64 printable ASCII characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /) so that binary data can travel over text-only channels.

Related tools

Encode text or binary data to Base64 online. Free, private, and 100% client-side.

Decode Base64 data back to readable text online. Free, private, and 100% client-side.

Encode text to hexadecimal online. Free, private, and 100% client-side.