Base36 Shortener for IDs
Generate short, URL-friendly identifiers using Base36 encoding
Base36 ID Generator
Convert numbers and text to compact Base36 identifiers
Base36 Alphabet & Examples
Base36 Characters (36 total)
0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Digits 0-9 and letters A-Z (case-insensitive)
Number Examples
With Prefix
Benefits
Batch Processing
Convert multiple values at once (one per line)
About Base36 Shortening
- Base36 uses digits 0-9 and letters A-Z for compact representation
- Perfect for generating short, URL-friendly identifiers
- Case-insensitive encoding makes it user-friendly
- Commonly used for short URLs, session IDs, and database keys
- More compact than decimal numbers while remaining readable
Understanding Base36 Shortening
Base36 shortening is a technique used to convert long numeric identifiers or text into compact, URL-friendly strings using a 36-character alphabet consisting of digits 0-9 and letters A-Z. This encoding method is particularly valuable for creating short URLs, generating user-friendly reference numbers, and producing compact database keys. Unlike other encoding schemes, Base36 strikes an optimal balance between compactness and readability, making it ideal for applications where both human interaction and system efficiency are important.
How Base36 Encoding Works
Encoding Process
- Input Processing: Convert the input number to its decimal representation
- Base Conversion: Repeatedly divide by 36, collecting remainders
- Character Mapping: Map remainders to the Base36 alphabet (0-9, A-Z)
- Result Assembly: Concatenate mapped characters in reverse order
- Prefix Addition: Optionally add prefixes for categorization
Number to Base36 Example
Converting 123456 to Base36:
123456 ÷ 36 = 3429 remainder 0 → ‘0’
3429 ÷ 36 = 95 remainder 9 → ‘9’
95 ÷ 36 = 2 remainder 23 → ‘N’
2 ÷ 36 = 0 remainder 2 → ‘2’
Result: 2N90
Compression Comparison
Base36 Character Set
Digits (0-9)
Values 0-9 represent themselves
Letters (A-Z)
A=10, B=11, ..., Z=35
Case Insensitive
A=a, B=b, etc. (typically uppercase)
Applications and Use Cases
URL Shortening
- • Short link generation (bit.ly style)
- • Social media sharing
- • Email-friendly URLs
- • QR code optimization
- • Analytics tracking codes
- • Campaign identifiers
Database Systems
- • Primary key generation
- • Foreign key references
- • Sharded database IDs
- • Index optimization
- • Partition keys
- • Cache keys
User-Facing IDs
- • Order numbers
- • Invoice references
- • Ticket numbers
- • Customer IDs
- • Product codes
- • Transaction IDs
Session Management
- • Session tokens
- • Temporary identifiers
- • Authentication codes
- • Reset tokens
- • Verification codes
- • API keys
Content Management
- • Document IDs
- • Media file references
- • Version identifiers
- • Slug generation
- • Permalink creation
- • Category codes
Gaming & Apps
- • Player IDs
- • Game room codes
- • Achievement IDs
- • Leaderboard entries
- • Match identifiers
- • Item codes
Advantages of Base36 Encoding
Technical Benefits
Space Efficiency
Reduces identifier length by approximately 30-40% compared to decimal representation
URL Compatibility
All characters are URL-safe without requiring percent encoding
Case Insensitive
Reduces user input errors and improves accessibility
User Experience Benefits
Human Readable
Uses familiar alphanumeric characters that are easy to read and type
Voice Friendly
Can be communicated verbally using NATO phonetic alphabet
Print Friendly
Works well in printed materials, business cards, and documents
Implementation Strategies
ID Generation Patterns
Sequential IDs
Predictable, ordered, good for debugging
Timestamp-based IDs
Time-ordered, sortable, collision-resistant
Prefix Strategies
Padding Techniques
Collision Avoidance
Performance and Scalability
Performance Metrics
Scalability Factors
ID Space
36^6 = 2.1 billion unique 6-character IDs
Database Indexing
Shorter keys improve index performance
Network Efficiency
Reduced bandwidth usage for API calls
Base36 vs Other Encoding Systems
| System | Characters | Case Sensitive | URL Safe | Efficiency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base36 | 0-9, A-Z | No | Yes | Good | Short URLs, IDs |
| Base62 | 0-9, A-Z, a-z | Yes | Yes | Better | Very short URLs |
| Base64 | A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, / | Yes | No (+, /) | Best | Data encoding |
| Hexadecimal | 0-9, A-F | No | Yes | Poor | Technical data |
Best Practices and Guidelines
Design Considerations
ID Structure
- • Use consistent prefix conventions
- • Implement minimum length requirements
- • Consider chronological ordering
- • Plan for future growth
User Experience
- • Make IDs copy-pasteable
- • Avoid confusing character combinations
- • Provide clear formatting guidelines
- • Support case-insensitive input
Security Considerations
- • Avoid sequential IDs for sensitive data
- • Add randomness to prevent enumeration
- • Use check digits for critical applications
- • Implement rate limiting for ID generation
- • Consider cryptographic randomness sources
Implementation Tips
- • Cache frequently used conversions
- • Validate input before processing
- • Handle edge cases (zero, negative numbers)
- • Document ID format specifications
- • Test with large number ranges