URL Encoder / Decoder
Percent-encode or decode URLs and query strings safely in your browser. Free, instant, and fully private.
About URL Encoder / Decoder
A URL encoder and decoder solves a surprisingly common failure: links and query strings that break because they contain spaces, ampersands, or other reserved characters. Whether you're building a search URL, passing parameters between apps, or debugging why a link won't work in some browsers, percent-encoding is the fix. This tool applies the standard encoding in both directions, right in the browser.
Encoding converts characters outside the safe set into percent signs followed by their two-digit hex byte value, so a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. The tool matches encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent, the standard JavaScript functions, so the output is compatible with what your code produces. Safe characters like letters and numbers pass through untouched, and decoding reverses the process, turning encoded strings back into the readable form you expect.
Web developers building query strings, single-page apps, and API integrations use it constantly, especially when user input flows into URLs. Marketers and analysts debugging campaign links with tracking parameters, and anyone sharing links that contain special characters, will find it indispensable. It's also the fastest way to inspect an unfamiliar encoded string and see what data it actually carries.
How to Use
- Paste the URL or query string you need to process.
- Choose Encode or Decode for the direction you want.
- Copy the result and drop it into your code or address bar.
Example
"hello world & more?" encoded hello%20world%20%26%20more%3F
Spaces become %20, & becomes %26, and ? becomes %3F. Percent-encoding ensures special characters travel safely in URLs.
FAQ
Why do URLs need encoding?
URLs can only safely contain certain characters. Encoding converts reserved or unsafe characters into percent-encoded forms so links work everywhere.
Is encodeURIComponent the same as this?
Yes — this tool applies the same rules as encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent, the standard JavaScript functions for query strings.
Will encoding break a normal URL?
No. Characters like letters and numbers are never encoded, so safe URLs pass through unchanged.
What is the difference between encoding a whole URL and a query value?
Encoding the value uses encodeURIComponent rules, which also escape characters like / and ?. Encoding the whole URL keeps those structural characters intact. This tool follows the value-based rules.
Why does my decoded URL still look odd?
Some characters are double-encoded, meaning a %25 (encoded percent sign) decodes to % and then to the real character in a second pass. Decode once, and if % remains, decode again.