URL Encode/Decode|Options
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Input
e.g. hello world & special=chars
Output
e.g. hello%20world%20%26%20special%3Dchars
Chars: 0
Words: 0
Sentences: 0
Paragraphs: 0
Reading: < 1m
Speaking: < 1m
Input length: 0
Output length: 0
Chars changed: 0

URL Encode & Decode Online — Percent-Encode Special Characters for URLs

Need to make a URL safe for use in a query string, or decode a percent-encoded URL back to readable text? This free tool handles URL encoding and decoding instantly, supporting full UTF-8 character sets.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Paste your text or URL — Enter the text to encode or the encoded URL to decode in the input panel.
  2. Choose encode or decode — Select whether you want to URL-encode your text or decode an already-encoded URL.
  3. Review the result — The encoded or decoded result appears instantly in the output panel.
  4. Copy the result — Click Copy to use the result in your URL, API call, or application.
  5. Chain with other tools — With Auto-fill enabled, your output automatically carries over when you open another tool from the sidebar. Use the back and forward arrows to undo navigation and restore your previous tool state including all options.

Features

URL Encoding

Converts special characters to percent-encoded format (e.g., space becomes %20, & becomes %26) for safe use in URLs.

URL Decoding

Converts percent-encoded strings back to readable text (e.g., %20 becomes space, %26 becomes &).

Full UTF-8 Support

Correctly handles multibyte characters, emoji, and international characters in any language.

Component vs Full URL

Encode individual query parameter values or full URLs with proper handling of reserved characters.

Instant Processing

Results update in real time as you type or paste.

Complete Privacy

All encoding and decoding happens in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

Auto-fill Pipeline

Enable Auto-fill to carry your output to the next tool. Navigate back and forward with full state restoration — input, output, and all settings are preserved.

Real-World Use Cases

1

Encode query parameters for API testing

Ensure special characters in URL query parameters are properly encoded before sending API requests during development or testing.

2

Decode a URL-encoded error message from logs

Application logs often contain URL-encoded strings. Decode them to read the actual error messages and debug issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) replaces unsafe characters in URLs with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal code. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. This ensures URLs are transmitted correctly by browsers and servers.
What characters need to be URL-encoded?
Characters that have special meaning in URLs (such as &, =, ?, #, /, and space) must be encoded when used as data values in query strings. Letters, numbers, hyphens, underscores, periods, and tildes are safe and do not need encoding.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL but preserves characters that are valid in URLs like :, /, ?, and #. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except letters, numbers, and a few special characters, making it suitable for encoding individual query parameter values.
Does it handle emoji and international characters?
Yes. The tool uses UTF-8 encoding, which correctly handles emoji, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Cyrillic, and characters from any other writing system.
When should I URL-encode text?
Whenever you include user-generated text or special characters in a URL, especially in query string parameters, form submissions, or API calls. Without encoding, special characters can break the URL or be misinterpreted.
Is my data private?
Yes. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser. Nothing is ever sent to a server.

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All text processing happens directly in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server, stored, or shared with third parties. This tool is completely private and secure.