# Decode Base64 and read the text

Separate the byte representation from text encoding when reading an encoded order reference.

Source: https://help.smartfact.ai/octetbench/guides/decode-base64

Audience: Operator

Separate the byte representation from text encoding when reading an encoded order reference. This is isolated practice with invented records. Nothing is uploaded or written into a live system.

## Decode Base64 and read the text

1. **Choose Base64 input**

   Choose Base64 input.

   Base64 is a representation of bytes, not a text encoding. Decode it before deciding how those bytes represent characters.

2. **Enter an encoded order reference**

   Enter an encoded order reference.

   This is the Base64 representation of the order reference WO-1001.

3. **Decode the Base64 bytes**

   Decode the Base64 bytes.

   Seven decoded bytes are ready. Invalid padding or incomplete input would leave the old buffer intact.

4. **Read the decoded text**

   Read the decoded text.

   Text decoding uses the explicitly selected UTF-8 encoding. Unsupported byte sequences produce a refusal rather than replacement characters.

[Watch or practise this chapter](https://help.smartfact.ai/octetbench/demo?guide=decode-base64&chapter=decode-base64&audience=office)

Review the result and its limits before using it in another application.