URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode text for safe use in a URL, or decode an encoded URL back to readable text.
How the URL Encoder & Decoder works
Switch to Encode to convert spaces, symbols, and special characters into their percent-encoded form (like %20 for a space), or switch to Decode to turn percent-encoded text back into readable text.
This uses the same encodeURIComponent/decodeURIComponent functions built into every browser, so the result matches exactly what a web application would produce.
Frequently asked questions
Why do URLs need to be encoded?
URLs can only safely contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, symbols like &, ?, and #, and non-English characters have to be converted into a percent-encoded form (like %20 for a space) so they aren't misread as part of the URL's structure.
What does a % followed by two characters mean?
That's percent-encoding: the % is followed by the two-digit hexadecimal code for a character's byte value. For example, %20 represents a space and %26 represents the & symbol.
Should I encode an entire URL or just part of it?
Usually just the parts that come from user input — like a search query or a value inside the URL — not the whole URL, since encoding characters like : and / that structure the URL itself would break it. This tool is most useful for encoding individual query values, then combining them with the rest of the URL yourself.