URL Encoder/Decoder
Easily encode special characters for use in URLs or decode URL-encoded strings with this free online tool. Perfect for web developers working with query parameters and URL components.
Text to Encode
Encoded URL
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) under certain circumstances. URL encoding is used when placing text in a query string to avoid conflicts with the URL syntax.
When URLs contain characters outside the ASCII set or reserved characters like ?, =, /, :, these characters need to be encoded. URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a % followed by two hexadecimal digits corresponding to the character’s ASCII value.
Common URL Encoding Examples
| Character | URL Encoded | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Space | %20 | Spaces are encoded as %20 (or + in forms) |
| / | %2F | Forward slash |
| ? | %3F | Question mark |
| & | %26 | Ampersand |
| @ | %40 | At symbol |
Features
Two-Way Conversion
Easily encode text for use in URLs and decode URL-encoded strings back to their original form.
Multiple Encoding Modes
Choose between Component encoding (for parts of URLs), Full URI encoding, or Form encoding for form submissions.
URL Parameter Handling
Perfect for encoding query parameters and path segments in URLs to ensure they’re properly formatted.
Unicode Support
Properly handles international characters and symbols, ensuring they’re correctly encoded for use in URLs.
Privacy First
All processing happens directly in your browser. Your data is never sent to our servers.
Developer Friendly
Essential tool for web developers working with URLs, query parameters, and form submissions.
How to Use
Encoding URLs
- Select the “Encode URL” tab
- Enter the text you want to encode
- Choose the appropriate encoding mode:
- Component – For encoding individual parts of a URL (like query parameters)
- Full URI – For encoding an entire URL
- Form – For encoding form data (spaces become + instead of %20)
- Click the “Encode URL” button
- Copy the encoded result
Decoding URLs
- Select the “Decode URL” tab
- Paste the URL-encoded string you want to decode
- Choose the appropriate decoding mode:
- Component – For decoding individual parts of a URL
- Full URI – For decoding an entire URL
- Click the “Decode URL” button
- View and copy the decoded result
Common Use Cases for URL Encoding
Query Parameters
When adding parameters to a URL query string, values often need encoding to handle special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters correctly.
Form Submissions
When submitting form data via GET or POST requests, form values need to be properly encoded, especially for special characters and international text.
API Development
When building or consuming APIs, parameters and path segments often need URL encoding to ensure they’re properly formatted and interpreted.
Internationalization
URLs containing international characters (non-ASCII) need proper encoding to work correctly across different systems and browsers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the different encoding modes?
Component encoding (encodeURIComponent) is used for encoding individual parts of a URL like query parameters. Full URI encoding (encodeURI) is used for encoding a complete URL while preserving the special URL characters like /, ?, :, etc. Form encoding is similar to component encoding but replaces spaces with + signs instead of %20, which is used in form submissions.
Why do I need to encode URLs?
URL encoding is necessary when URLs contain special characters that have specific meanings in URL syntax (like ?, &, =, #) or characters outside the ASCII set. Without proper encoding, these characters can break the URL structure or be misinterpreted by browsers and servers.
What characters need to be URL encoded?
Characters that need URL encoding include:
- Reserved characters with special meaning in URLs:
! * ' ( ) ; : @ & = + $ , / ? # [ ] - Unsafe characters:
space % < > { } | \ ^ ~ - All non-ASCII characters (characters outside the 0-127 range)
Is URL encoding the same as HTML encoding?
No, URL encoding and HTML encoding (also called HTML escaping) are different. URL encoding is used for URLs and uses percent signs (%) followed by hexadecimal digits. HTML encoding uses ampersands (&) and semicolons (;) to represent special characters in HTML content. For example, a space is %20 in URL encoding but in HTML encoding.
Why do spaces sometimes appear as + and sometimes as %20?
In standard URL encoding (like encodeURIComponent), spaces are encoded as %20. However, in application/x-www-form-urlencoded format (used in HTML forms), spaces are traditionally encoded as + signs. This is why our tool offers a Form encoding option that uses + for spaces.
Is my data secure when using this tool?
Yes, all processing happens directly in your browser. Your URL data is never sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy. However, remember that URL encoding itself is not encryption and doesn’t provide security – it’s simply a way to format data for use in URLs.