Text Encryptor - AES-256 Encryption & Decryption
How to Use the Text Encryptor
Select Encrypt mode, enter the text you want to protect, type a strong password, and click Encrypt. The tool produces a Base64-encoded encrypted string that you can safely share or store. To decrypt, switch to Decrypt mode, paste the encrypted string, enter the same password, and click Decrypt to recover the original text.
How AES-256-GCM Encryption Works
This tool uses AES-256-GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard with 256-bit key in Galois/Counter Mode), which is the same encryption standard used by governments, banks, and military organizations worldwide. The encryption process involves several steps that happen automatically in your browser.
The Encryption Pipeline
| Step | Process | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Generate random salt (16 bytes) | Ensures different encryptions of same text produce different output |
| 2 | Derive key via PBKDF2 (100K iterations) | Converts password to a strong 256-bit key |
| 3 | Generate random IV (12 bytes) | Initialization vector for GCM mode |
| 4 | AES-256-GCM encryption | Encrypts the plaintext and produces authentication tag |
| 5 | Combine salt + IV + ciphertext + tag | Packages everything needed for decryption |
| 6 | Base64 encode | Produces a text-safe string for sharing |
Why GCM Mode Matters
GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) provides authenticated encryption, meaning it protects both confidentiality and integrity. If anyone modifies even a single bit of the encrypted data, decryption fails rather than producing corrupted output. This prevents tampering attacks where an adversary modifies encrypted data without knowing the key.
Choosing a Strong Password
The security of your encrypted data depends entirely on your password. AES-256 itself cannot be broken, but a weak password can be guessed through dictionary attacks. Follow these guidelines for strong encryption passwords:
- Use at least 12 characters mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid dictionary words, names, and common patterns
- Consider using a passphrase of four or more random words
- Never reuse an encryption password across different contexts
Use Cases for Text Encryption
Sharing Sensitive Information
When you need to send passwords, API keys, or confidential notes through insecure channels like email or chat, encrypt the text first and share the password through a separate channel. This way, intercepting the encrypted message is useless without the password.
Storing Secrets in Plain Text Files
Encrypt configuration secrets before storing them in text files, notes, or version control. The encrypted Base64 string can be safely committed to a repository since it reveals nothing without the password.
Personal Data Protection
Encrypt personal notes, journal entries, or financial information before storing them in cloud services. Even if the cloud storage is compromised, the encrypted data remains protected.
Client-Side Security Guarantee
All cryptographic operations run locally in your browser using the Web Crypto API. No data, passwords, or keys are transmitted to any server. You can verify this by using the tool with your network connection disabled. The encryption and decryption work identically offline.
For computing hash checksums of files rather than encrypting text, use the File Hash Calculator. For generating hash digests of text strings, the Hash Generator computes SHA-256 and other algorithms.
Related Tools
- Hash Generator - Generate SHA-256 hashes for integrity verification
- File Hash Calculator - Compute checksums for downloaded files
- Base64 Encoder/Decoder - Decode the Base64 output of encryption
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to encrypt text in a browser?
Yes, when the tool uses the Web Crypto API and runs entirely client-side. This tool performs all encryption and decryption in your browser without sending data to any server. The Web Crypto API provides the same cryptographic primitives used by professional security software.
What is AES-256-GCM encryption?
AES-256-GCM is a symmetric encryption algorithm that uses a 256-bit key and provides both confidentiality and authenticity. GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) ensures that encrypted data cannot be tampered with without detection. It is the gold standard for symmetric encryption.
Can encrypted text be decrypted without the password?
No. AES-256 encryption cannot be broken by brute force with current or foreseeable technology. Without the exact password used for encryption, the encrypted data is unrecoverable. There is no backdoor or master key. If you lose the password, the data is permanently inaccessible.
What is PBKDF2 and why is it used for the password?
PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) converts your password into a cryptographic key through 100,000 iterations of hashing. This deliberate slowness makes brute-force password guessing extremely slow, protecting against attackers who try millions of passwords per second.