---
id: base64decode
title: base64Decode Search Operator
sidebar_label: base64Decode
description: Use the base64Decode operator to convert base64-encoded strings into readable ASCII or non-ASCII text in your log data.
slug: /help/docs/search/search-query-language/search-operators/base64decode/
canonical: https://www.sumologic.com/help/docs/search/search-query-language/search-operators/base64decode/
---

The `base64Decode` operator takes a base64 string and converts it to ASCII or non-ASCII string. Input must be a valid base64 string. Invalid input is returned unaltered.

## Syntax

`base64Decode("<string>"[, "<encoding>"]) as <field>`

`base64Decode(<string_field>[, "<encoding>"]) as <field>`

### Supported encodings

* US-ASCII
* UTF-8 (default)
* UTF-16
* UTF-16BE
* UTF-16LE
* UTF-32
* UTF-32BE
* UTF-32LE

## Examples

### Decode an ASCII base64 string

The following returns `V` with a value of `http://codec.apache.org/commmons`:

```sumo
| base64Decode("aHR0cDovL2NvZGVjLmFwYWNoZS5vcmcvY29tbW1vbnM=") as V
```

### Decode a UTF-16LE base64 string

The following returns `V` with a value of `This is a test string`:

```sumo
| base64Decode("VABoAGkAcwAgAGkAcwAgAGEAIAB0AGUAcwB0ACAAcwB0AHIAaQBuAGcA", "UTF-16LE") as V
```

### Decode a non-ASCII base64 string

The base64Decode function supports decoding non-ASCII characters in addition to ASCII. The following returns `V` with a value of `ありがと ございます`:

```sumo
| base64Decode("44GC44KK44GM44GoIOOBlOOBluOBhOOBvuOBmQ==") as V
```

:::note
Make sure that the decoding format you are using matches the one you used for encoding.
:::