About the URL Encoder / Decoder
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, symbols, and non-ASCII text must be percent-encoded (for example, a space becomes %20). This free online URL Encoder/Decoder converts text to and from percent-encoded form instantly.
Use component mode to encode a single query-string value safely, or full-URL mode to encode an entire address while preserving its structure. It is ideal for building links, debugging query parameters, and handling special characters in APIs — all in your browser.
How to encode or decode a URL
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- Optionally enable 'Full URL' to preserve URL structure (encodeURI); leave it off to encode a single value (encodeURIComponent).
- Paste your text or URL into the input box.
- The encoded or decoded result appears instantly below.
- Click Copy to grab the result.
Features
- Encode and decode in both directions.
- Component mode (encodeURIComponent) for query-string values.
- Full-URL mode (encodeURI) to keep URL structure intact.
- Clear error handling for malformed input.
- 100% client-side — nothing is sent to a server.
URL Encoder / Decoder FAQs
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces unsafe characters with a % followed by hexadecimal digits, so data can be transmitted safely in a URL. For example, a space becomes %20.
When should I use component vs full-URL mode?
Use component mode to encode a single value such as a query parameter. Use full-URL mode when encoding a complete URL, so characters like : and / are preserved.
Why does decoding sometimes show an error?
Decoding fails when the input contains an invalid percent-encoding sequence (like a lone % sign). Check that the encoded string is complete and valid.
Is this tool free and private?
Yes. It is completely free, and all encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser — your data is never uploaded.
Does it handle non-English characters?
Yes. Unicode characters are encoded to their UTF-8 percent-encoded representation and decoded back correctly.
