URL Encoder / Decoder

Securely Encode or Decode URLs Instantly in Your Browser

Advertisement Space
Error: Unable to decode. The text might be malformed.
Copied to clipboard!
Advertisement Space

How to Use This Tool

  1. Input: Paste the text or URL you want to convert into the top box.
  2. Select Action:
    • Click Encode URL to convert special characters into percent-encoded format (e.g., space becomes %20).
    • Click Decode URL to convert encoded characters back to readable text.
  3. Copy: Your result appears instantly in the bottom box. Click "Copy Result" to use it.

Benefits of Our URL Encoder/Decoder

What is URL Encoding and Why Do We Need It?

URL encoding, officially known as percent-encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). Characters that are allowable in a URI are either reserved or unreserved. Reserved characters are those that have special meaning (like the slash / or the question mark ?), while unreserved characters have no such meaning.

The Problem with Special Characters

URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character-set. Since URLs often contain characters outside the ASCII set, the URL has to be converted into a valid ASCII format. URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits.

For example, URLs cannot contain spaces. URL encoding normally replaces a space with a plus (+) sign or with %20.

When to Use Encoding vs. Decoding

Encoding: You should encode a string when placing it inside a URL query parameter. For example, if you are passing a user's email address or a search query like "hello & world" in a URL, the ampersand (&) must be encoded to avoid breaking the URL structure.

Decoding: You decode a string when you want to read the actual content of a URL parameter. If you receive a URL like search?q=hello%20world, decoding it reveals the original query: "hello world".

Common Encoded Characters

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this tool safe to use? +
Yes, absolutely. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. We do not store, record, or transmit any data you enter.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent? +
This tool uses encodeURIComponent logic, which encodes special characters including: , / ? : @ & = + $ #. This ensures the string is safe to include as a specific query parameter within a larger URL.
Why do I get an error when decoding? +
This usually happens if the text contains a "%" symbol that is not followed by two hexadecimal digits, making it an invalid encoded sequence.
Is this tool free? +
Yes, this URL Encoder / Decoder is completely free to use for personal and commercial purposes.
Does it work on mobile? +
Yes, the design is fully responsive and works perfectly on iOS and Android devices.