What is Base45?

Base45 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme that uses 45 characters to represent data. It was designed specifically for use in QR codes, particularly for the EU Digital COVID Certificate system. Base45 uses a set of characters that are optimized for QR code encoding efficiency.

How It Works

Encoding: Base45 takes binary data and converts it into a sequence of characters from its 45-character set. It processes the input in chunks and uses a division-based algorithm to generate the encoded output.

Decoding: The Base45 string is converted back to binary data by reversing the encoding process. Each character is mapped back to its numerical value, and the values are combined to reconstruct the original data.

• Uses 45 characters: 0-9, A-Z, and special characters.
• Optimized for QR code encoding.
• More compact than Base32 or Base64.
• Used in health certificates and other applications.

Use Cases

Base45 has several important applications:

• COVID Certificates: Used in EU Digital COVID Certificates.
• QR Codes: Efficient encoding for QR code data.
• Compact Data: Space-efficient data representation.
• Health Records: Encoding medical information.

Advantages of Base45

Base45 offers several benefits:

• Efficiency: Optimized for QR code encoding.
• Compactness: More space-efficient than many other encodings.
• Standardization: Used in international standards.
• Reliability: Includes error detection.

How to Use This Tool

1. Select either "Encode" or "Decode" mode.
2. Enter the text or Base45 string into the top input field.
3. The result will appear automatically in the bottom output field.
4. Use the swap button to switch the input and output, automatically changing the mode.
5. Click the copy icon next to the output label to copy the result.
6. Error messages will appear for invalid Base45 input or encoding errors.