Our free URL encoder and decoder tool converts special characters in URLs to percent-encoded format and decodes encoded URLs back to readable text. Essential for web developers, SEO specialists, and anyone working with URLs, query parameters, or web APIs.
Using our URL encoder is simple. To encode a URL or text, enter it in the input field and click "Encode". Special characters are automatically converted to their percent-encoded equivalents (like spaces becoming %20). To decode a URL, paste the encoded URL and click "Decode" to convert percent-encoded characters back to their original form. Use the Copy button to quickly copy the result. The tool handles all special characters including spaces, symbols, international characters, and punctuation marks.
URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a method to encode special characters in URLs so they can be transmitted over the internet safely. URLs can only contain certain characters from the ASCII character set. When you need to include special characters like spaces, symbols, or non-ASCII characters in a URL, they must be encoded. The encoding uses the percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code. For example, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and a question mark becomes %3F.
Web developers use URL encoding when building query strings for APIs, form submissions, and dynamic URLs. SEO specialists encode URLs containing special characters or international text to ensure proper indexing. Social media managers encode URLs with campaign parameters and tracking codes. API developers encode request parameters to prevent breaking URL syntax. Database administrators encode search queries that contain special characters. Email marketers encode tracking parameters in email links. Front-end developers encode user input before adding it to URLs to prevent XSS vulnerabilities and ensure proper data transmission.
Understanding URL encoding is fundamental in web development. Query parameters in URLs must be properly encoded to avoid breaking the URL structure. For example, if you want to pass "hello world" as a parameter, it must be encoded as "hello%20world" or "hello+world". Special characters like &, =, ?, and # have specific meanings in URLs, so they must be encoded when used as data values. Modern JavaScript provides encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions for this purpose, but understanding how it works helps prevent common bugs and security issues.
Certain characters are reserved in URLs because they have special meaning. These include: ? (query string start), & (parameter separator), = (key-value separator), # (fragment identifier), / (path separator), : (protocol separator), @ (user info), and others. When these characters need to appear as data rather than syntax, they must be encoded. For example, if you want to search for "AT&T", the ampersand must be encoded as "AT%26T" to prevent it being interpreted as a parameter separator. Understanding these reserved characters helps you build properly formatted URLs.
URL encoding also handles international characters and emoji. Since URLs originally supported only ASCII characters, non-ASCII characters like Chinese, Arabic, emoji, or accented letters must be encoded. Modern URL encoding uses UTF-8 encoding where each character may be represented by multiple percent-encoded bytes. For example, the emoji "😀" is encoded as "%F0%9F%98%80". This ensures URLs work correctly across all languages and platforms, making the web truly international.
All URL encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser. We never send your URLs or data to our servers, ensuring privacy for sensitive links or confidential parameters. The tool works offline and processes conversions instantly using standard web APIs.