URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode or decode URLs for safe transmission. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format or decode them back to readable text.
Input Settings
Encodes all special characters - use for query parameters
No input entered
Encoded Result
Encoded result will appear here
Enter URL and click "Convert" to start
Sample URLs
About URL Encoder / Decoder
URL encoding (also known as percent encoding) converts special characters in URLs to a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. This tool transforms characters like spaces, symbols, and non-ASCII characters into percent-encoded sequences (e.g., %20 for space) and can also decode these sequences back to their original readable form.
Why use a URL Encoder / Decoder?
URL encoding is essential for web development as it ensures that URLs work correctly across all browsers and servers by replacing unsafe characters with safe equivalents. It prevents URLs from breaking when they contain spaces, special characters, or international characters, making your web applications more robust and internationally compatible.
Who is it for?
Web developers, API developers, SEO specialists, and digital marketers who work with URLs, query parameters, or form data will find this tool indispensable. It's particularly useful for those building web applications, integrating APIs, or analyzing web traffic where properly formatted URLs are crucial.
How to use the tool
Paste your URL or text containing special characters into the input field
Select 'Encode' to convert special characters to percent-encoded format, or 'Decode' to convert encoded URLs back to readable format
Click the conversion button to process your URL
Copy the encoded or decoded result from the output field
Use the properly formatted URL in your web application, API calls, or browser
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I URL-encode or URL-decode a string?
Paste text into the input and choose Encode (text → URL-encoded percent-escapes) or Decode (URL-encoded → original text). The tool handles both `encodeURIComponent` and `encodeURI` modes (see the relevant FAQ for the difference). Reserved characters become `%XX` (e.g., space → `%20`, & → `%26`). Runs entirely in your browser — your input never leaves the device. Useful for: constructing URLs with user input, debugging query strings, inspecting Webhook callback URLs.
What is URL encoding (percent encoding)?
URL encoding (RFC 3986) replaces characters that aren't safe in URLs with `%XX` sequences, where XX is the character's hex code. Reserved characters (used by URL syntax): `: / ? # [ ] @ ! $ & ' ( ) * + , ; = %`. Unsafe characters (must always encode): space (→ `%20`), control characters, non-ASCII (Unicode). Safe characters: letters, digits, `- . _ ~` (the unreserved set). Encoding ensures URLs travel correctly through HTTP, email, and other text-based protocols.
Is my data sent to a server when I encode?
No — encoding/decoding runs entirely in your browser via JavaScript's built-in `encodeURIComponent` / `decodeURIComponent`. Your input never reaches a server, never gets logged. Verify in DevTools' Network tab: zero HTTP requests during encoding. Safe for inspecting sensitive URL parameters, OAuth callbacks, authentication tokens — though see the security note below about putting secrets in URLs at all.
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
`encodeURIComponent` (the tool's default) escapes all URL-syntax-significant characters — appropriate for encoding individual URL components (query parameter values, path segments). It encodes `& = ? / # +` etc. `encodeURI` is more permissive — it preserves URL-syntax characters (`/`, `?`, `#`, etc.) since they're meaningful in a full URL. Use `encodeURI` for encoding entire URLs (where the structure is preserved); use `encodeURIComponent` for embedding values inside URLs. They produce different output for the same input.
Does this handle Unicode and special characters?
Yes — URL encoding handles full Unicode. Each non-ASCII codepoint becomes its UTF-8 byte sequence encoded as percent-escapes. 'café' becomes `caf%C3%A9` (c, a, f, then %C3%A9 for é's UTF-8 bytes). Emoji like 😀 (4 UTF-8 bytes) become `%F0%9F%98%80`. Decoders reverse the process. The whole UTF-8 → percent-encoding pipeline is standardised since the URI RFC 3986. All modern browsers and HTTP libraries handle this correctly.
Why is the space character sometimes %20 and sometimes +?
Two related but different conventions. RFC 3986 URL spec: space → `%20`. HTML form encoding (`application/x-www-form-urlencoded`): space → `+`. So in URL paths, you'll see `%20`; in form-encoded query strings (HTML forms POST bodies), you'll see `+`. Both decode back to space. Most decoders handle both. When manually constructing URLs, use `%20` for unambiguous behaviour; in form data, use `+`. Don't mix the two in one string.
Should I put sensitive data in URLs?
Generally no. URLs appear in: browser address bars (visible to anyone looking at the screen), browser history (persistent), server access logs (visible to admins, potentially exposed in breaches), referrer headers (sent to other sites you link to), proxy logs, analytics. Even with HTTPS, the URL is logged by both ends. Never put passwords, API keys, session tokens, or PII in URL query parameters. Use POST request bodies with proper authentication headers instead. URL encoding doesn't add security — it just makes the content URL-syntactically valid.
When does URL encoding matter in real applications?
Constantly. Constructing query strings from user input: `?search=hello+world&category=tech%20news`. OAuth callback URLs encoding state parameters. Webhook URLs with timestamps and signatures. Redirect URLs in OAuth/SSO flows. Sharing URLs containing special characters or emoji. Any time user input becomes part of a URL, encode it. Most modern frameworks (Express, Django, Rails) handle encoding automatically when you use the framework's URL-construction helpers — manual encoding is needed only when building URLs by string concatenation.
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