URL Encoder & Decoder Online — Percent-Encode URLs Free & Instantly
Encode and decode URL strings.
URL Encoding converts special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the Internet.
Common encoded characters: space → %20, & → %26, = → %3D, ? → %3F
Privacy first: This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.
Encode special characters in a URL or query string using percent-encoding, and decode percent-encoded URLs back to readable text. Essential for working with query parameters, API endpoints, and form submissions. All processing runs locally in your browser.
How to Use URL Encoder/Decoder
- Choose encode or decode: Select whether you want to encode a URL or decode a percent-encoded string.
- Paste your input: Enter the URL or string to process.
- View the result: The encoded or decoded output appears instantly.
- Copy: Click "Copy" to copy the result to your clipboard.
Features
- Percent-encodes URLs and query string values
- Decodes percent-encoded strings back to readable text
- Handles full URL encoding and component encoding separately
- Live output as you type
- Runs entirely in your browser — no server calls
- Free with no account required
Common Use Cases
Developers use URL encoding when constructing query strings in code, debugging API requests with special characters, and handling form submissions. It is also useful when sharing URLs that contain non-ASCII characters or special symbols.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is URL encoding?
- URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) replaces special characters with a % followed by their hexadecimal ASCII code. For example, a space becomes %20. This ensures URLs are valid and unambiguous.
- When should I encode the full URL vs. just a component?
- Encode only query parameter values and path segments using encodeURIComponent(). Use encodeURI() for an entire URL to preserve the structure. The tool offers both modes.
- What characters get encoded?
- Characters outside the unreserved set (letters, digits, -, _, ., ~) are encoded. Reserved characters like /, ?, &, and = are encoded when encoding a component but preserved when encoding a full URL.
- Is URL encoding the same as Base64?
- No. URL encoding and Base64 encoding serve different purposes. URL encoding makes text safe to use in a URL. Base64 encoding converts binary data to a text representation.