Base64 is a group of binary-to-text encoding schemes that represent binary data in an ASCII string format. It is heavily used in email via MIME, and storing complex data in XML.
Is Base64 Encryption?
No! A common misconception among junior developers is that Base64 provides security. It provides zero security. It is simply a translation of data so that it can be safely transmitted across networks that are designed to handle text.
Always encrypt data first, then Base64 encode it if necessary.