diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 8eb0581..8b2e2a1 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -8,33 +8,33 @@ const zwus = {
     /**
      * Encodes a string into a sequence of zero-width characters.
      * @param {string} text - The input text to encode.
-     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for encoding. Options: 3, 6, 8. Larger the base, the smaller the output, but the more likely the zero width will be detectable by sight.
+     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for encoding. Defaults to 6. Options: 3, 6, 8. Larger the base, the smaller the output, but the more likely the zero width will be detectable by sight.
      * @returns {string} The encoded string.
      */
-    encodeString: (text, base = 3) => Array.from(text, u => u.codePointAt(0).toString(base).split('').map(x => zwus[base][x]).join('')).join(zwus[base].unifier),
+    encodeString: (text, base = 6) => Array.from(text, u => u.codePointAt(0).toString(base).split('').map(x => zwus[base][x]).join('')).join(zwus[base].unifier),
     /**
      * Encodes an array of numbers into a sequence of zero-width characters.
      * @param {Array<number>} arr - The array of numbers to encode.
-     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for encoding. Options: 3, 6, 8. Larger the base, the smaller the output, but the more likely the zero width will be detectable by sight.
+     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for encoding. Defaults to 6. Options: 3, 6, 8. Larger the base, the smaller the output, but the more likely the zero width will be detectable by sight.
      * @returns {string} The encoded array.
      */
-    encodeNumberArray: (arr, base = 3) => arr.map(n => n.toString(base).split('').map(x => zwus[base][x]).join('')).join(zwus[base].unifier),
+    encodeNumberArray: (arr, base = 6) => arr.map(n => n.toString(base).split('').map(x => zwus[base][x]).join('')).join(zwus[base].unifier),
     /**
      * Decodes a string of zero-width characters back into the original string.
      * NOTE: Decoding accuracy is contingent upon the original encoding base and alphabet.
      * @param {string} text - The encoded text to decode.
-     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for decoding. Must match the base used for encoding.
+     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for decoding. Defaults to 6. Must match the base used for encoding.
      * @returns {string} The decoded string.
      */
-    decodeToString: (text, base = 3) => text.split(zwus[base].unifier).map(x => String.fromCodePoint(parseInt(Array.from(x).map(z => Object.keys(zwus[base]).find(k => zwus[base][k] === z)).join(''), base))).join(''),
+    decodeToString: (text, base = 6) => text.split(zwus[base].unifier).map(x => String.fromCodePoint(parseInt(Array.from(x).map(z => Object.keys(zwus[base]).find(k => zwus[base][k] === z)).join(''), base))).join(''),
     /**
      * Decodes a string of zero-width characters back into the original array of numbers.
      * NOTE: Decoding accuracy is contingent upon the original encoding base and alphabet.
      * @param {string} text - The encoded text to decode.
-     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for decoding. Must match the base used for encoding.
+     * @param {number} base - The numerical base for decoding. Defaults to 6. Must match the base used for encoding.
      * @returns {Array<number>} The decoded array of numbers.
      */
-    decodeToNumberArray: (text, base = 3) => text.split(zwus[base].unifier).map(x => parseInt(Array.from(x).map(z => Object.keys(zwus[base]).find(k => zwus[base][k] === z)).join(''), base)),
+    decodeToNumberArray: (text, base = 6) => text.split(zwus[base].unifier).map(x => parseInt(Array.from(x).map(z => Object.keys(zwus[base]).find(k => zwus[base][k] === z)).join(''), base)),
 };
 
 export default zwus;
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2876441..99c77ec 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "zwus",
-  "version": "2.2.3",
+  "version": "2.3.0",
   "type": "module",
   "homepage": "https://zwus.pages.dev",
   "license": "WTFPL",
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index cbae010..2f3dabe 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ const decoded = zwus.decodeToNumberArray(encoded);
 Higher base = shorter output, but more likely visible in some renderers.
 
 ```js
-zwus.encodeString("hi", 3)  // default, safest
-zwus.encodeString("hi", 6)  // compact
+zwus.encodeString("hi", 3)  // safest
+zwus.encodeString("hi", 6)  // default, compact
 zwus.encodeString("hi", 8)  // most compact
 ```