URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode text for use in a URL, or decode a URL-encoded string, instantly in your browser.
How to use the URL Encoder/Decoder
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- Paste the text or URL component.
- Click Run and copy the result into your link or code.
How the URL Encoder/Decoder works
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Encoding converts your text to UTF-8 and replaces every character outside the unreserved set (letters, digits and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( )) with a percent sign and two hex digits, so a space becomes %20 and & becomes %26. This matches JavaScript's encodeURIComponent.
Encode individual parameter values or path segments, not a whole URL, otherwise the :, / and ? that structure the URL get encoded too. Decoding reverses the process.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this tool free?
- Yes. Encode and decode URLs at no cost, with no account required.
- What encoding is used?
- Standard percent-encoding (encodeURIComponent), suitable for a query string parameter or path segment.
- Why is a space sometimes + instead of %20?
- HTML forms encode spaces in query strings as +, while percent-encoding uses %20. This tool uses %20, which works everywhere in a URL.
- Does my text leave my browser?
- No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your text is never sent to a server.