Base64 and URL encoding are often mentioned together, but they solve different problems. Base64 turns data into a text-safe representation, while URL encoding makes unsafe characters work inside a URL.
When to use Base64
Base64 is helpful when a system expects a compact text representation of content, often for transport or configuration fields.
When to use URL encoding
URL encoding is best for query parameters and path segments that contain spaces, symbols, or non-standard characters.
Avoid mixing them up
If a value looks broken in a link, URL encoding is probably the right fix. If a system asks for a Base64 string, regular URL encoding will not replace it.