JPEG to Base64 Converter

What Is JPEG to Base64 Conversion?

JPEG to Base64 conversion encodes the binary data of a JPEG file into a text string prefixed with data:image/jpeg;base64,. The output is a complete data URI that browsers render as an inline image. This string can be embedded in HTML <img> tags, CSS background-image rules, JSON API payloads, or JavaScript source code without referencing an external file.

Why Convert JPEG Images to Base64?

JPEG Base64 encoding is useful for embedding photo thumbnails in JSON API responses, including product images in HTML email templates, reducing HTTP requests for small photo assets, and bundling preview images in single-file HTML documents. JPEG's lossy compression produces smaller source files than PNG for photographs, which means shorter Base64 strings. The technique works best for thumbnails under 20 KB. For encoding any image format, see the Base64 image encoder.

How Does JPEG Differ from PNG for Base64 Encoding?

JPEG and PNG serve different purposes in Base64 encoding. The following table compares their characteristics for inline embedding.

Choose JPEG for photographic content where transparency is not required. Choose PNG for graphics with sharp edges, text, or transparent backgrounds. Compare encoding trade-offs at Base64 vs binary. To encode PNG files, use the PNG to Base64 converter.

What Are the Size Considerations for JPEG Base64?

JPEG photos are typically larger than icon files, so the 33% Base64 overhead has greater impact. A 50 KB JPEG becomes approximately 67 KB as a Base64 string. A 20 KB thumbnail becomes roughly 27 KB. For web performance, embed only JPEG thumbnails under 20 KB as Base64. Larger photographs should be served as separate cached files via a CDN. Calculate exact sizes with the Base64 size calculator. Learn the fundamentals at What Is Base64.

How Do You Embed JPEG Base64 in Web Pages?

In HTML, use the Base64 data URI as the src attribute of an <img> element. In CSS, place it inside url() for background images. Both approaches render the JPEG inline without an external HTTP request.

<!-- HTML inline image -->
<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRg..." alt="Photo">

/* CSS background image */
.thumbnail {
  background-image: url('data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRg...');
  background-size: cover;
}

Generate ready-to-use code snippets with the Base64 embed generator. To decode JPEG Base64 back to an image file, use the Base64 to JPEG converter.

Frequently Asked Questions