URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode or decode URLs instantly with this free URL Encoder & Decoder.
Convert special characters into percent-encoded format for safe transmission in web URLs, query strings, APIs, and form data, or decode encoded URLs back into readable text.
This tool supports automatic encode/decode detection and helps developers, SEO specialists, and marketers properly format URLs for browsers, servers, and analytics tracking.
Instantly encode query parameters or decode percent-encoded URLs.
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (also known as Percent-Encoding) is a mechanism used to convert special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet within a web address. Because URLs can only be sent over the internet using the ASCII character set, characters outside of this set (such as spaces, symbols, and international characters) must be converted into valid ASCII formats.
This process replaces the unsafe character with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a simple space becomes %20. This ensures that browsers, APIs, and web servers interpret the URL correctly without breaking the routing logic.
Common URL Encoded Characters
Below is a reference table showing the most common characters that developers must escape when building query strings and API endpoints:
| Character | Name | Encoded Value |
|---|---|---|
| (space) | Space | %20 (or +) |
| / | Forward Slash | %2F |
| : | Colon | %3A |
| ? | Question Mark | %3F |
| & | Ampersand | %26 |
| = | Equals Sign | %3D |
| # | Hash / Pound | %23 |
| @ | At Symbol | %40 |
How to Use the URL Encoder & Decoder
When sending data through a web link (URL), you can only use a specific set of safe ASCII characters. If your URL contains spaces, special symbols, or foreign characters, they must be translated into a format that web browsers and servers can understand. Our free URL Encoder / Decoder instantly handles this translation, known as "percent-encoding."
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Step 1: Paste Your Data. Click inside the top text box and paste the text, query string, or URL you want to convert.
- Step 2: Choose Your Action.
- Click Encode URL (Blue Button) to translate standard text into a safe format for web transmission (e.g., turning a space into
%20). - Click Decode URL (Green Button) to translate an ugly, percent-encoded URL string back into human-readable text.
- Click Encode URL (Blue Button) to translate standard text into a safe format for web transmission (e.g., turning a space into
- Step 3: Copy Your Output. Your processed text will appear in the bottom box. Click "Copy Result" to securely save it to your clipboard.
🔒 Privacy Disclaimer
This tool operates entirely on client-side JavaScript. Your URLs, API keys, and query strings are processed locally within your web browser. We do not transmit, log, or save any of your data to our servers.