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Caesar Cipher Encoder & Decoder

Encode or decode text with a shift cipher. Adjust the shift (1–25), use ROT13, and see a live letter mapping.

Built by Garrick Dee · Last verified August 2026

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How it works

1
Decide whether to encode or decode

Pick Encode to scramble readable text into cipher, or Decode to reverse a message you've received. You can switch between them without re-entering your text.

2
Pick your shift value

Drag the slider anywhere from 1 to 25. The alphabet bar below it shows the complete substitution map — every original letter and its cipher equivalent — so you can verify the mapping at a glance before copying.

3
Copy the output — or chain it

Copy your result with one click. The Swap button feeds the output back into the input field, useful for applying a second shift on top of the first or quickly confirming a round-trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Caesar cipher?

A Caesar cipher is one of the oldest encryption techniques. It shifts every letter in the alphabet by a fixed number of positions. For example, with a shift of 3, A becomes D and Z wraps around to C.

What is ROT13 and how is it different?

ROT13 is simply a Caesar cipher with a shift of 13. Because the English alphabet has 26 letters, encoding with ROT13 twice returns the original text — it is its own inverse. Click the ROT13 button to set the shift instantly.

Does the tool handle uppercase and lowercase letters?

Yes. Uppercase letters shift within A–Z and lowercase letters shift within a–z. Digits, spaces, and punctuation are passed through unchanged.

How do I decode a Caesar cipher?

Switch to Decode mode, paste the ciphertext, and set the same shift number that was used when encoding. The original message will appear in the output box immediately.

Can I apply multiple shifts in a row?

Yes. After encoding, click Swap to move the output into the input field, change the shift, and encode again. You can chain as many operations as you like.

Why do numbers and punctuation pass through unchanged?

Caesar cipher was designed for the 26-letter Latin alphabet only. Numbers and punctuation marks have no natural "shifted" equivalent in a 26-position rotation, so this tool leaves them as-is — a period stays a period, "7" stays "7". This is standard behavior across Caesar cipher implementations. If you need digits shifted too, you'd need a different cipher scheme where the character set is explicitly extended beyond A–Z.

How to use the Caesar cipher

Set your shift value using the slider or type a number directly — the range is 1 to 25. Hit ROT13 to jump straight to shift 13, the most common preset. Type your message in the top field and the encoded output appears below in real time. To decode an existing cipher, paste the encoded text into the top field and use Swap to move it to the output — then reverse the shift (e.g. if it was encoded at shift 7, set the slider to 7 and read the top field). Both fields update live as you adjust the shift.