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What is base64url?

skevy/base64url — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2018-07-16

★ 2JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5DormantSetup · easy

In one sentence

A small JavaScript library for encoding and decoding text or binary data into URL-safe base64url format, commonly used for JWTs.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Encodes to URL-safe base64
      Decodes back to text
      Converts base64 to base64url
    Tech stack
      JavaScript
      Node.js
    Use cases
      Encode JWT payloads
      Pass data safely in URLs
      Encode API tokens
    Audience
      Backend developers
      API builders
    Setup
      npm install
      Minimal configuration

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Encode user session data into a URL-safe string for use in JSON Web Tokens.

USE CASE 2

Decode a base64url-encoded string from an API response back into readable text.

USE CASE 3

Convert data already in standard base64 format into the URL-safe base64url variant.

USE CASE 4

Safely pass binary or text data through a URL query parameter without breaking the link.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptNode.js

How does it compare?

skevy/base64url3imed-jaberi/cryptography-si-isamm3imed-jaberi/koa-isomorphic-router
Stars222
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed2018-07-162021-09-252021-02-06
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity1/51/52/5
Audiencedeveloperresearcherdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Show me how to install and use base64url to encode a string in my Node.js app.
Prompt 2
Help me decode a base64url-encoded JWT payload back into a JSON object using this library.
Prompt 3
Explain the difference between standard base64 and base64url and how this library converts between them.
Prompt 4
Write a small example that encodes user data for a URL parameter using base64url.

Frequently asked questions

What is base64url?

A small JavaScript library for encoding and decoding text or binary data into URL-safe base64url format, commonly used for JWTs.

What language is base64url written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Node.js.

Is base64url actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2018-07-16).

How hard is base64url to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is base64url for?

Mainly developer.

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