URL Encoder & Decoder

Free online URL encoder and decoder. Encode special characters for URLs and decode URL-encoded strings instantly.

Input

Output

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also known as percent encoding) converts special characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. Characters like spaces, &, ?, #, and many others need to be encoded when used in URLs to ensure they are interpreted correctly by web browsers and servers.

Why Use Our URL Encoder/Decoder?

Free & No Installation: Use our URL encoder directly in your browser without downloading or installing anything
Instant Conversion: Encode and decode URLs in real-time with instant results
Bidirectional: Both encode text to URL format and decode URL-encoded strings in one tool
One-Click Copy: Copy encoded or decoded text to clipboard instantly
100% Secure: All processing happens in your browser - your data never leaves your device
Accurate Encoding: Proper handling of special characters following RFC 3986 standards

How to Use URL Encoder/Decoder:

Encode:

Paste your text with special characters in the input area
Click "Encode URL" button
Copy the URL-encoded result

Decode:

Paste your URL-encoded string in the input area
Click "Decode URL" button
Copy the decoded plain text result

Common Use Cases for URL Encoding:

Query Parameters: Encode values for URL query strings (e.g., ?search=hello%20world)
API Requests: Encode parameters for REST API calls and HTTP requests
Form Data: Encode form data for GET and POST requests
Special Characters: Handle spaces, &, ?, #, and other special characters in URLs
Debugging: Decode URL-encoded strings to understand what data is being sent
SEO-Friendly URLs: Create clean, encoded URLs for better search engine optimization

Understanding URL Encoding (Percent Encoding)

URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a '%' followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, space becomes %20, & becomes %26. This ensures that URLs can be properly transmitted over the Internet without being misinterpreted by browsers or servers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What characters need to be URL encoded?

Characters that need encoding include: spaces, &, ?, #, %, =, +, and non-ASCII characters. Reserved characters like :, /, ?, #, [, ], @, !, $, &, ', (, ), *, +, ,, ;, = should also be encoded when used in specific URL components.

What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURIComponent encodes more characters and is used for encoding query string values. Our tool uses encodeURIComponent for maximum safety. encodeURI is for encoding full URLs and doesn't encode characters like /, ?, &.

Why does a space become %20?

The space character (ASCII 32) is represented as %20 in URL encoding. Some systems also use + for spaces in query strings, but %20 is the standard percent-encoding format.

Can I encode an entire URL?

You can encode parts of a URL (like query parameter values), but be careful not to encode the entire URL including protocol (http://) and slashes, as this will break the URL structure. Encode only the values, not the URL structure.