About this tool
Encode and decode URLs instantly for web development, API integration, query parameter handling, and form data transmission. This URL encoder converts special characters into percent-encoded format (%20, %3A, etc.) required for valid URLs, while the decoder reverses the process.
URL encoding (percent-encoding) is essential when URLs contain special characters, spaces, or non-ASCII characters. Browsers and servers require proper encoding to correctly interpret URLs, especially in query parameters, form submissions, and API requests.
Web developers, API integrators, and digital marketers use URL encoding when building links with parameters, creating tracking URLs, debugging API calls, and handling international characters in URLs. Proper encoding prevents errors and ensures data reaches servers correctly.
Our tool handles both encoding (text → URL-safe) and decoding (URL-safe → text) with proper RFC 3986 compliance. Works entirely in your browser for instant results without server requests.
Practical Usage Examples
The Clean API Call
Passing a data-heavy query through a GET request.
Input: "data=A & B" -> Output: "data=A%20%26%20B"The XSS Exploit Check
Decoding a suspicious string found in a server log.
Input: "%3Cimg%20src%3Dx%3E" -> Output: "<img src=x>"Social Media UTM Prep
Preparing a marketing link for LinkedIn.
Input: "utm_content=web dev" -> Output: "utm_content=web%20dev%202026"Legacy Plus Symbol Fix
Changing old form-style + signs back into spaces.
Input: "hello+world" -> Output: "hello world"Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Paste Your Target String: Enter your raw text or the encoded URL into the primary input area.
Step 2: Choose Your Execution Mode: Select "Encode" to prepare text for a URL, or "Decode" to turn hex back into reading text.
Step 3: Audit Structural Integrity: Review the output instantly. Note how a space becomes %20 or a slash becomes %2F.
Step 4: Check for Malicious Logic: If decoding, look for script tags or hidden binary commands that indicate an exploit attempt.
Step 5: Copy the Sanitized Payload: Use the one-click copy button to transfer the result to your code or browser bar.
Step 6: Deploy with Confidence: Paste the RFC 3986 compliant string into your API request or SEO campaign link.
Core Benefits
Bidirectional encoding and decoding in one tool
Handles all special characters correctly
RFC 3986 compliant for standard compatibility
Perfect for API development and testing
Supports international (Unicode) characters
Instant client-side processing
Essential for query string debugging
Frequently Asked Questions
Percent-encoding, also known as URL encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) using only the characters allowed by the RFC 3986 standard.
In the computer's ASCII table, a space is assigned the code 32. In hexadecimal, 32 is 20. Percent-encoding adds the % sign to signify the hex value, resulting in %20.
While the technical RFC doesn't set a hard limit, most modern browsers like Chrome and Safari cap URLs at around 2,000 characters. For extremely large data, use a POST request instead.
No. Base64 is a different binary-to-text encoding scheme. This tool is specifically for URL Percent-Encoding. Use our "Base64 Encoder" tool for those payloads.
The "+" symbol is a legacy standard used in HTML form submissions (application/x-www-form-urlencoded). Modern JavaScript and RFC 3986 prefer the more precise %20.
Yes. Our tool decodes the text locally and displays it as a "Neutral String," meaning any malicious script inside will not execute on your computer.
Characters that never need encoding are: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and the four special symbols: hyphen (-), underscore (_), period (.), and tilde (~).
Our tool uses UTF-8 encoding. Non-Latin characters are first converted to their multi-byte UTF-8 hex array and then percent-encoded, ensuring global compatibility.
Absolutely. It is best practice to encode your tracking parameters to ensure Google Ads and Google Analytics communicate without losing data due to spaces or special symbols.
Never. All encoding and decoding logic is performed by your own browser. We respect developer privacy and never log your processed strings.