Encode and decode URL components instantly. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format for safe use in URLs. Free online tool.
What Is URL Encoder & Decoder Online?
URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces unsafe characters in a URL with a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. Spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, and so on. This is essential because URLs can only contain a limited set of ASCII characters — letters, digits and a few special symbols.
Without proper encoding, characters like spaces, question marks and hash symbols break the URL structure. A single unencoded ampersand in a query parameter can split what should be one value into two separate parameters, causing subtle bugs in web applications.
How to Use This Tool
Paste the text or URL you want to encode into the input field.
Select whether to encode the full URL or just a component (query parameter value).
Click "Encode" to convert special characters to percent-encoded format.
To decode, paste a percent-encoded string and click "Decode".
Copy the result using the copy button.
Tips & Best Practices
Use "Encode Component" (encodeURIComponent) for query parameter values — it encodes everything including colons and slashes.
Use "Encode URI" (encodeURI) for full URLs — it preserves the structural characters like :// and /.
Double-encoding (encoding an already-encoded string) is a common bug — check your input first.
Test encoded URLs in a browser to verify they resolve correctly.
Common Use Cases
Safely including user input in URL query parameters.
Encoding file names with spaces for use in download URLs.
Debugging API requests that fail due to improperly encoded parameters.
Preparing redirect URLs that contain their own query strings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do URLs need encoding?
URLs can only contain certain ASCII characters. Special characters like spaces, ampersands and equals signs must be percent-encoded (e.g. space becomes %20) to be safely included in URLs.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL but preserves characters like colons and slashes. encodeURIComponent encodes everything including those characters, making it suitable for query parameter values.