URL Encode / Decode
Percent-encode special characters in URLs or decode them back to readable text. Handles full URLs and individual components.
URL Breakdown
Common Encodings
How to Use URL Encoder / Decoder
To URL-encode a string, paste or type your text into the input field and select Encode. Special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters are converted to their percent-encoded equivalents (e.g. a space becomes %20). This ensures the text is safe to use as a URL parameter or path segment.
To decode, switch to Decode mode and paste a URL-encoded string. The tool converts all percent-encoded sequences back to their original characters. A quick-reference panel shows the most common URL-encoded character mappings for reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding? expand_more
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs into a safe format. Each character is replaced with a percent sign followed by its two-digit hexadecimal ASCII code.
Why does a space become %20 in a URL? expand_more
Spaces are not valid in URLs, so they are encoded as %20. Some systems use + as an alternative encoding for spaces in query strings, but %20 is the standard for path segments.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent? expand_more
encodeURI encodes a full URL and leaves characters like '/', '?', and '#' intact. encodeURIComponent encodes a single parameter value and converts those characters too, making it suitable for values within query strings.
Does URL encoding affect the meaning of the data? expand_more
No. URL encoding is a reversible transformation. The encoded string carries exactly the same information and can be decoded back to the original text at any time.
Can I use this tool to decode URLs from a browser's address bar? expand_more
Yes. Copy a percent-encoded URL or query parameter from your browser and paste it into the Decode field to see the original readable text.
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