Protocol Buffers Encoder/Decoder
Encode, decode and validate Protocol Buffers messages
Proto Schema
Input
Output
About Protocol Buffers
Protocol Buffers (Protobuf) is a language-neutral, platform-neutral extensible mechanism for serializing structured data developed by Google.
Key Features
How to Use This Tool
- Enter your .proto schema definition in the schema editor
- Click [Parse Schema] to validate and parse the schema
- Select the message type you want to operate on
- For encoding: Enter JSON data and click [Encode]
- For decoding: Enter binary data and click [Decode]
Proto Syntax Reference
Protocol Buffers uses simple syntax to define message types:
syntax = "proto3";
message Person {
string name = 1;
int32 id = 2;
string email = 3;
enum PhoneType {
MOBILE = 0;
HOME = 1;
WORK = 2;
}
message PhoneNumber {
string number = 1;
PhoneType type = 2;
}
repeated PhoneNumber phones = 4;
}syntax: Specifies protobuf version (proto2 or proto3)message: Defines a message type containing fieldsfield: Each field has a type, name, and unique numberenum: Defines an enumeration typerepeated: Marks a field as repeated (array/list)
Scalar Types
Protocol Buffers supports various scalar types:
| Type | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|
| int32, int64 | Signed integer (variable-length encoding) | 0 |
| uint32, uint64 | Unsigned integer | 0 |
| sint32, sint64 | Signed integer using ZigZag encoding (efficient for negative numbers) | 0 |
| float, double | Floating point number (32 or 64 bits) | 0.0 |
| bool | Boolean value (true/false) | false |
| string | UTF-8 encoded text string | "" |
| bytes | Arbitrary binary data | empty |
Best Practices
- Use proto3 syntax for new projects - simpler and more widely supported
- Keep field numbers stable - never reuse or change numbers of existing fields
- Use meaningful field names to clearly describe data
- Reserve numbers 1-15 for commonly used fields (they use only 1 byte)
- Use 'repeated' keyword to represent arrays/lists
- Define enums for fields with a fixed set of possible values
Common Use Cases
- Inter-service communication (gRPC)
- Data storage and caching
- Configuration files
- Network protocols and APIs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Protocol Buffers (Protobuf)?
Protocol Buffers is a language-neutral, platform-neutral mechanism for serializing structured data. It's similar to JSON but smaller, faster, and can generate native language bindings. It's widely used in gRPC microservices.
How do I use this online Protobuf tool?
First, paste your .proto schema definition into the editor (or load an example). Click "Parse Schema" and select a message type. Then, you can switch between "Encode" (JSON → binary) and "Decode" (binary → JSON) modes to process your data.
Is my data processing secure?
Yes. This tool runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript (protobuf.js). Your schema, JSON data, and binary data are never sent to our servers, ensuring your sensitive information remains confidential.