What is Base45 Tool?
Base45 is a binary-to-text encoding scheme defined in RFC 9285. It is specifically designed to be used in QR codes. QR codes have an 'alphanumeric' mode that can store 45 specific characters (0-9, A-Z, space, $, %, *, +, -, ., /, :) more efficiently than general binary data. Base45 encodes any binary data into this 45-character set, allowing QR codes to store significantly more data in the same space compared to Base64. It is famously used in the EU Digital COVID Certificate (Green Pass).
Input Formats
- Plain text
- Base45 strings
- Binary data
Output Results
- Base45 string
- Decoded text
- Copy-ready result
Key Features
Who is this for?
QR Code Generation
Encoding binary data (like compressed CWTs) to fit into a smaller QR code.
Health Certificates
Decoding the raw payload of an EU Digital COVID Certificate.
Compact Storage
Storing binary data on printed media where alphanumeric characters are preferred.
How to Use
Paste your text or Base45 string.
Select 'Encode' to convert to Base45.
Select 'Decode' to convert back.
Copy the result.
Examples
Input
Hello WorldOutput
%69 VD92EX0Common Errors
- Using characters outside the 45 allowed chars
- Confusing with Base64 or Base32
- Expecting it to work efficiently outside of QR codes
Code Examples
Python
import base45
encoded = base45.b45encode(b'Hello World')
print(encoded)