URL Encoder / Decoder
How to Encode or Decode URLs
Paste a URL with special characters, or encoded text with percent-encoded sequences like %20 or %3D.
Click Encode to convert special characters to percent-encoded format, or Decode to convert them back to readable text.
The converted text appears instantly. Click Copy to use it in your application.
What Is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters not allowed in URLs into a safe format using percent signs followed by hexadecimal digits. URLs can only contain a limited ASCII character set. Spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, and non-English characters are encoded as UTF-8 byte sequences. URL encoding is essential for web development because unencoded special characters can break URL parsing or cause security vulnerabilities.
When Do You Need URL Encoding?
Web developers encode query parameters containing user input to prevent broken URL structure. API developers encode parameters in REST endpoints with special characters. SEO professionals decode URLs from analytics tools to read actual page paths. Email marketers encode tracking parameters in campaign URLs. International websites encode non-Latin characters in URLs for proper browser handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What characters need to be URL encoded?
Spaces, non-ASCII characters, and reserved characters like &, =, #, ?, / must be encoded when used as data within URL components.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI preserves URL-special characters (/, ?, &). encodeURIComponent encodes everything — use it for individual parameter values.
Why do spaces sometimes appear as + and sometimes as %20?
In query strings, spaces can be + or %20. In the URL path, only %20 is valid. Our tool uses %20 for universal compatibility.
Is my data safe?
Yes. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser.