URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode special characters and Unicode in URLs to a safe format, or decode encoded URLs back to original text. Supports real-time conversion and batch processing.
URL Encoder/Decoder
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a method of converting characters that cannot be safely used in URLs into a format using % followed by hexadecimal values. For example, a space becomes %20, and the ampersand & becomes %26.
This encoding is essential for web browsers, APIs, and form data submissions to safely transmit special characters and non-ASCII characters in URLs.
Key Features
- Bidirectional Conversion – Easily switch between encoding and decoding with tabs
- Real-time Conversion – Results appear instantly as you type
- Two Encoding Methods – Choose between full and partial encoding
- Input/Output Swap – Swap input and output with a single click
- Clipboard Copy – One-click copy to clipboard
- Character Count – Real-time display of input and output length
How to Use
- Select Mode – Choose “Encode” or “Decode” from the tabs at the top.
- Choose Encoding Method – In encode mode, select between full or partial encoding.
- Enter Text – Type or paste your text in the left input field.
- View Results – The converted result appears automatically in the right output field.
- Copy – Click the copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.
Encoding Method Comparison
Full Encoding (encodeURIComponent)
Encodes all special characters in the URL. Best used when encoding query parameter values.
- Input:
https://example.com?name=John Doe - Output:
https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%3Fname%3DJohn%20Doe
Partial Encoding (encodeURI)
Preserves URL structure characters (: / ? # @ etc.) and only encodes spaces and non-ASCII characters.
- Input:
https://example.com?name=John Doe - Output:
https://example.com?name=John%20Doe
Who Needs This Tool?
- Web Developers – Encoding API request URL parameters
- QA Engineers – Debugging and analyzing encoded URLs
- Digital Marketers – Creating campaign URLs with UTM parameters
- SEO Specialists – Handling URL encoding for international characters
- Data Analysts – Decoding URLs from log files
Privacy Protection
This tool runs 100% in your browser. The text you enter is never sent to any server and is deleted when you close the browser. You can safely use this tool with sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is URL encoding necessary?
URLs can only contain ASCII characters. Non-ASCII characters like international letters, spaces, and special symbols cannot be used directly in URLs, so they must be converted to a safe format using percent-encoding. This ensures all characters can be safely transmitted in URLs.
What’s the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is used to encode an entire URL while preserving URL structure characters (: / ? # @ etc.). encodeURIComponent is used to encode a part of the URL, like a query parameter value, and encodes almost all special characters.
Should spaces be %20 or +?
In standard URL encoding, spaces are represented as %20. The + symbol for spaces is used specifically in HTML form data with application/x-www-form-urlencoded encoding. This tool uses standard URL encoding (%20).
What should I do if decoding fails?
Malformed encoded strings (such as incomplete % sequences) can cause decoding errors. Please verify that your input is a valid URL-encoded string. Specifically, each % must be followed by exactly two hexadecimal digits.