URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode special characters or decode percent-encoded strings in URLs. Runs 100% offline for privacy.
Raw Text or URL Input
Options
Encode query parameters only (encodeURIComponent)
0 characters
URL Translated Output
What is URL Encoding (Percent-Encoding)?
URL encoding, or percent-encoding, is a mechanism to encode information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) under certain circumstances. It replaces unsafe or reserved ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character code in UTF-8.
URLs are restricted to a limited set of characters from the US-ASCII character set. Characters outside this set (like spaces, emojis, or international alphabets) or characters that have special semantic meanings in URLs (like `?`, `&`, `=`, `/`, or `#`) must be encoded when used as parameter values so the server interprets them correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
`encodeURI` is designed to encode a full, functional URL. It leaves characters that have functional meaning in URLs intact (such as `http://`, `:`, `/`, `?`, `&`, `=`). `encodeURIComponent` is designed to encode a single query string key or value. It encodes almost all characters, including `:`, `/`, `?`, `&`, and `=`, making them safe to insert as query parameters without breaking URL routing.
Why is space converted to %20 instead of +?
In standard URI percent-encoding, space is represented as `%20`. In legacy application/x-www-form-urlencoded forms (like query parameters submitted via HTML forms), space is often encoded as `+`. When decoding, this tool automatically processes both formats seamlessly.
Is URL encoding secure?
No. Similar to Base64, URL encoding is purely a transmission format conversion to ensure compatibility with network protocols and HTTP specifications. It does not encrypt, hide, or protect data. Anyone can decode a percent-encoded string instantly.