URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode special characters for safe URL transmission or decode percent-encoded URLs back to readable text. Essential for web developers.
How to Encode and Decode URLs
- 1Paste your URL or text into the input field
- 2Click 'Encode URL' to percent-encode special characters
- 3Click 'Decode URL' to convert %XX sequences back to characters
- 4Copy the result for use in your application
Key Benefits
- Encodes all special characters including spaces
- Decodes any percent-encoded string
- Handles full URLs and individual query parameters
- Instant encoding and decoding
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts unsafe or reserved characters into a safe format for transmission in a URL. Each unsafe character is replaced by a % sign followed by two hexadecimal digits representing its byte value. For example, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and an at-sign becomes %40. URLs are limited to a specific set of ASCII characters, so anything outside that set must be encoded.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is designed for complete URLs — it encodes characters that are not allowed in a URL but leaves reserved characters like /, ?, =, and & intact (because they have structural meaning in URLs). encodeURIComponent is designed for individual values within a URL — it encodes those reserved characters too, making it the right choice for encoding a query parameter value or a path segment.
Why do URLs need encoding?
The URL specification allows only a limited set of ASCII characters. Characters outside that set — spaces, accented letters, non-Latin scripts, and reserved characters used in unexpected positions — must be percent-encoded so they are transmitted as literal data rather than interpreted as URL syntax. Without encoding, a space in a query parameter could break the URL structure.
What is the difference between %20 and + for encoding spaces?
In URL path segments, a space must be encoded as %20. In query strings submitted by HTML forms (the application/x-www-form-urlencoded format), spaces are encoded as +. Most URL parsers and server frameworks handle both, but %20 is the safer, more universally correct choice when constructing URLs manually or in API requests.
Which characters must be encoded in a URL query string?
Characters that have reserved meaning in URL syntax — including space, #, &, =, ?, /, :, @, and + — must be encoded when they appear as literal data in query parameter values. Unreserved characters (letters, digits, -, _, ., ~) do not need encoding and can be left as-is. When in doubt, encoding a character is always safe; leaving a reserved character unencoded may corrupt the URL.
Is URL encoding the same as encryption?
No. URL encoding is a formatting transformation, not a security measure. Anyone can decode a percent-encoded string instantly. It does not hide or protect the content — it only ensures the characters are transmitted without being misinterpreted. If you need to protect a URL parameter's value, use proper encryption or sign it with a hash on the server side.