URL Encode / Decode
Percent-encode any string for safe use in URLs, or decode a percent-encoded URL string back to plain text — instantly in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs into a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. This ensures that URLs are transmitted correctly over the internet.
When should I use URL encoding?
Use URL encoding whenever you need to include arbitrary text in a URL query parameter or path segment — for example, when building API request URLs, creating links with special characters, or embedding data in query strings. Form data submitted via GET is also URL-encoded by the browser.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL and leaves characters like /, :, ?, and # unencoded because they are valid URL structure characters. encodeURIComponent (used by this tool) encodes everything except letters, digits, and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) — making it suitable for encoding individual query parameter values or path segments where those structural characters should be treated as literal data.