Web Dev Tools
URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode special characters in URLs to valid percent-encoded format and decode them back. Supports UTF-8 and handles complex query strings.
Use URL Encoder / Decoder to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
Your results will appear here.
About this tool
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters (ASCII alphanumeric). Any other characters, like spaces, emojis, or symbols (`&`, `?`, `/`), must be encoded into a valid format using "Percent Encoding" (e.g., `%20` for space).
This URL Encoder/Decoder tool handles this process for you. It uses the standard RFC 3986 encoding mechanism, ensuring your URLs work correctly across all browsers and servers.
Developers often use this to debug query strings, fix broken links, or prepare data for API requests. We also support aggressive encoding if you need to obfuscate data or ensure strict safety.
Usage examples
Standard Encoding
Spaces and Symbols
Hello World! → Hello%20World!
Decoding
Revert percent encoding
Hello%20World%21 → Hello World!
Query Param
Encoding a return URL
https://site.com → https%3A%2F%2Fsite.com
How to use
- Paste your string or URL into the input box.
- Select "Encode" to convert special characters (like spaces to %20).
- Select "Decode" to revert encoded characters back to text.
- Use "Encode All" for aggressive encoding of every character.
- Click "Copy Result" to use the output.
Benefits
- Encodes/Decodes compliant with RFC 3986
- Supports UTF-8 characters
- One-click Copy/Paste
- Secure client-side processing
- Handles multiple encoding layers
- Instant feedback
FAQs
Why do URLs need encoding?
URLs have reserved characters (like "/" and "?") that have special meaning. If you want to use these characters as data (e.g. inside a search query), they must be encoded so the browser doesn't interpret them as part of the URL structure.
What is %20?
%20 is the percent-encoded value for a Space character. It is the most common encoded character.
Difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is for full URLs (preserves protocol like http://). encodeURIComponent is for parts of a URL (encodes everything including / and :). Our tool defaults to encodeURIComponent logic for safety.
What characters are safe in URLs?
Unreserved characters are safe: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, hyphen (-), underscore (_), period (.), and tilde (~). All other characters including spaces, symbols, and non-ASCII characters should be percent-encoded for maximum compatibility.
Can I decode already-decoded URLs?
Yes, but enable "Continuous Decode" carefully. Some URLs are double or triple encoded (e.g., %2520 → %20 → space). Continuous decode repeats the process until no % characters remain or decoding stabilizes.
How do I encode special characters in query strings?
Use "Encode (Component)" mode which encodes all special characters including &, =, and ?. This is essential for query parameters where you want these characters as data, not URL structure (e.g., ?search=cats%26dogs encodes "cats&dogs" as a search term).
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