Image to base64 converter

When to use base64 vs a URL

Base64 inlines the image bytes into the document, so the document is self-contained, with no network request to fetch the image. Useful for small icons, email signatures, and one-off documents you want to render without an internet connection.

The trade-off: base64 adds about 33% to the file size, blocks parallel image downloads, and inflates HTML/CSS files that browsers cannot cache the image inside. For anything reused across pages, a real URL is usually faster.

When you want the URL, not the bytes

For screenshots in bug reports, design reviews, or anything an AI coding agent will read, a hosted URL is almost always the right answer. The image lives at a stable address; the markdown or document just references it. See markdown export for why the URL form survives the trip from human to agent intact.