URL Encoder & Decoder
Percent-encode text for safe use in URLs, or decode an encoded URL back to readable text — instantly, in your browser.
What is URL encoding?
URLs may only contain a limited set of characters. URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces everything else with a % followed by the character’s hexadecimal byte value — so a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. This lets you safely put arbitrary text into a query string, path, or link without breaking the URL.
When you need it
Reach for Encode when you’re building a URL by hand and a value contains spaces, &, ?, =, #, or non-ASCII characters. Use Decode to read an encoded link back as plain text. This tool uses component-style encoding (like JavaScript’s encodeURIComponent), which is the right choice for a single query-string value. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL (percent) encoding?
URL encoding replaces characters that are unsafe or reserved in a URL with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal byte value, for example a space becomes %20. It lets you put arbitrary text into query strings and paths without breaking the URL.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURIComponent escapes more characters (including / ? & =) and is the right choice when encoding a single value such as a query-string parameter. encodeURI leaves URL-structural characters intact and is for encoding a whole URL. This tool uses component encoding, which is what most people want.
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