Convert PDF to Base64 Encode Online

Advantages of converting PDF to Base64

The following are the advantages of converting a PDF to Base64:

• Easy embedding: We can embed a PDF using base64 inside a HTML, css, JSON without needing a separate file. This will reduce the number of api calls or network trips.
• Portability: A PDF is a binary file where as a Base64 is a plain text file. Text files are easier to store or transfer in systems that cannot handle binary data.
• Avoid broken file links: AS Base64 data is stored inside the html or css file, there is a less risk of missing or broken file paths.
• Cross-platform : Base64 works sames across multiple browsers, APIs and programming laungages. Whereas different applications treat binary files differntly.
• Security: Many applications block binary data due to security issues. As base64 is a plain text, there is a less chance of having security concerns.

Use Cases of PDFs in Base64

Following are the user cases of a Base64 PDF file:

• Web development: Many webapps display pdf data on their websites. With Base64, its is easy to display PDFS in HTML pages or thorught APIS.
• Database storage: Legacy databases do not support storing binary data. So, we can connvert PDF to Base64 and store in these databases.
• API communication: We can embed a Base64 PDF inside a JSON requests/responss and make API communications easily.
• Email attachments: Some email applications cnvert PDFs to Base64 so they can be attached as text in emails.
• Single-file packaging: With Base64, We can keep everything (code + PDF data) in one file for portability.

The downside of Base64 is that it increase the size of the original file by 33%. Also, it involves conversion of PDF to Base64 and viceversa which adds an extra overhead to the aplications.