URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode URLs to percent-encoded format or decode them back to readable text. 100% client-side — your data never leaves your browser.
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About URL Encoder & Decoder
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters (RFC 3986). Special characters like spaces, &, ?, #, and non-ASCII characters must be "percent-encoded" — replaced with % followed by two hexadecimal digits (e.g. space → %20). URL encoding ensures URLs are valid, safe to transmit, and interpreted correctly by servers. This tool lets you encode or decode URLs instantly in your browser, perfect for debugging API calls, building query strings, and working with redirect URLs.
How It Works
- Paste or type the text or URL you want to encode or decode.
- Choose "Encode" to convert special characters to percent-encoded format (using encodeURIComponent).
- Choose "Decode" to convert percent-encoded URLs back to readable text (using decodeURIComponent).
- Click Copy to grab the result, or Reset to start over.
✨ Key Features
- ✓Encode any text or URL to percent-encoded format
- ✓Decode percent-encoded URLs back to readable text
- ✓Handles Unicode and multi-byte characters correctly
- ✓One-click copy for output
- ✓Live character counter for input and output
- ✓Instant error detection for malformed encoded strings
- ✓100% client-side — no data sent to any server
- ✓No signup, no limits, completely free
🎯 Common Use Cases
- →Encoding query parameters in API requests
- →Building safe URLs with dynamic values (search queries, filters)
- →Debugging redirect URLs with encoded parameters
- →Decoding URLs from server logs or browser history
- →Encoding form data for GET requests
- →Working with OAuth redirect_uri parameters
- →Preparing URLs for embedding in HTML attributes
💡 Advanced Tips & Pro Insights
- ▸encodeURIComponent encodes everything except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) — the safest choice for query values.
- ▸encodeURI (not used here) preserves URL structure characters like / ? & = — use it for encoding a full URL, not its components.
- ▸Spaces become %20 in URLs, but in query strings you may also see + (used by application/x-www-form-urlencoded). This tool uses %20.
- ▸Never decode a URL from an untrusted source without validating — decodeURIComponent throws on malformed sequences like "%" or "%GG".
- ▸Double encoding (%2520 instead of %20) happens when you encode an already-encoded string. Use Decode first if you suspect this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this URL encoder free to use?▾
Yes, this URL encoder and decoder is completely free with no signup, registration, or usage limits.
Is my data safe?▾
Yes, 100% safe. All encoding and decoding happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device.
What is URL encoding?▾
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not allowed in URLs into a % sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, and & becomes %26. This ensures URLs are valid and safe to transmit.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?▾
encodeURIComponent encodes everything except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ), making it ideal for query parameter values. encodeURI preserves URL structure characters like / ? & = and is used to encode a complete URL while keeping its structure intact.
Why does my URL contain %20 instead of a space?▾
Spaces are not allowed in URLs. When a URL is encoded, a space becomes %20. Some systems use + instead of %20 for query strings (application/x-www-form-urlencoded format). This tool uses the standard %20.
What is double encoding?▾
Double encoding happens when you encode an already-encoded string. For example, %20 becomes %2520. If a URL looks unusual, try decoding it once or twice to reveal the original value.
Does this tool handle Unicode characters?▾
Yes, the tool correctly encodes Unicode characters (Hindi, Arabic, emoji, etc.) into their UTF-8 percent-encoded form, and decodes them back to readable text.
Can I use this for commercial projects?▾
Yes, you can freely use the encoded or decoded output in any personal or commercial project.