Free Online URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode and decode URLs and special characters quickly and easily.
URL Encoder & Decoder
Enter text or a URL below and choose whether to encode or decode it.
Tip: Ctrl + Enter to encode · Ctrl + K to clear
How it works
- Paste the URL, query value or text.
- Click Encode to make it URL-safe, or Decode to make it readable.
- Copy the result into your link, API request or code.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs with a % sign and two hexadecimal digits. A space becomes %20 and & becomes %26.
Should I encode the whole URL or just part of it?
Usually just the parts you insert, such as a query parameter value or path segment. Encoding a whole URL also encodes the :// and / characters, which breaks the link.
Why does decoding fail?
Decoding fails when a % is not followed by two valid hexadecimal digits, for example "100%" in plain text. Replace a literal % with %25 before decoding.
What is the difference between %20 and + for spaces?
Both can represent a space in query strings submitted by HTML forms, but only %20 is valid everywhere in a URL. This tool uses %20, which is always safe.
URL Encoder and Decoder
URLs can contain characters that have a special meaning on the internet. Characters such as spaces, symbols and non-ASCII characters may need to be encoded before they can safely be included in a URL.
A URL encoder converts these characters into a format that can be safely transmitted as part of a web address.
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, replaces certain characters with a percent sign followed by hexadecimal values.
For example, a space is commonly represented as %20 .
Why is URL encoding needed?
URLs have a defined syntax and some characters have special purposes. Encoding allows characters that could otherwise interfere with that syntax to be represented safely.
URL encoding is commonly used when working with query parameters, APIs, redirects and web applications.
How to encode a URL
Enter your URL or text into the input field and click Encode . The tool will convert characters that need URL encoding into their encoded representation.
How to decode a URL
If you have an encoded URL or piece of text, paste it into the input field and click Decode .
The encoded characters will be converted back into their original representation where possible.
Common URL encoded characters
- Space → %20
- ! → %21
- # → %23
- $ → %24
- % → %25
- & → %26
- ? → %3F
Is this URL encoder free?
Yes. This URL encoder and decoder is completely free to use and does not require an account or registration.
Your input is processed directly in your browser and is not uploaded to a server by this tool.