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URL Encoder & Decoder

Percent-encode text for links, or decode a messy URL back to readable text. Full UTF-8, runs in your browser.

 

About this tool

Web addresses can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, symbols and non-English letters must be percent-encoded (a space becomes %20). Use Component mode for a single query value and Full URL mode to encode a whole address while keeping its structure. Everything runs locally.

Why URLs need encoding

URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so anything outside that set, spaces, accented letters, and symbols like &, ?, / and # that have special meaning in a web address, must be percent-encoded: replaced by a % followed by its character code. A space becomes %20, for example. This is what lets a search query or a filename with spaces travel safely inside a link.

Reserved versus unreserved. Some characters are "reserved" because they structure the URL: ? starts the query string, & separates parameters, / separates path segments. If those appear inside a value rather than as structure, they must be encoded or the URL is misread. Letters, digits and a few symbols are "unreserved" and never need encoding.

Where it bites. The classic bug is a query parameter containing an ampersand or a plus sign that is not encoded, which silently truncates or corrupts the value on the server. Any time you build a URL from user input or data, encode each value first. The tool above encodes and decodes both whole URLs and individual components.

Common questions

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding, or percent-encoding, replaces characters that are unsafe in a web address with a percent sign followed by hex codes. For example a space becomes %20. It lets you put spaces, symbols and non-English text into links and query strings safely.

What is the difference between the two encode modes?

Encode component (encodeURIComponent) escapes everything including slashes and ampersands, ideal for a single query value. Encode full URL (encodeURI) leaves valid URL structure like :// and ? intact, ideal for encoding a whole address.

Is my data sent anywhere?

No. Encoding and decoding run locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

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