CyberChef

What it does

Browser-based tool for encoding, decoding, and analyzing data using a drag-and-drop recipe system. Supports 300+ operations including Base64, XOR, compression, and hashing.

When to use it

• Multi-step decode chains
• Experimenting with different approaches
• Visual learners who want to see the decode process

When not to use it

• Simple one-step decodes (overkill)
• Sensitive code you can't paste into a browser
• Automated/batch processing needs

Limitations

• Browser-based: data stays in your browser only
• Large files may cause performance issues
• Learning curve for complex recipes