URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode or decode URLs
The URL Encoder/Decoder converts special characters, Unicode text, and spaces into percent-encoded (%XX) format and back. Percent-encoding is required whenever URLs contain characters outside the unreserved ASCII set, such as query parameters with spaces, non-Latin characters, or symbols like & and =. This tool follows RFC 3986 standards and processes conversions in real time.
๐ How to Use
- Enter a URL or text in the input field
- Click Encode to convert special characters to URL-safe format
- Click Decode to restore encoded URLs to original form
- Copy the result for your use
โจ Features
- โURL special character encoding
- โFull percent-encoding support
- โUnicode URL encoding/decoding
- โQuery parameter handling
- โReal-time conversion
๐ก Use Cases
- โขWeb Developers: Encode special characters in query parameters (&, =, ?) so API calls transmit values correctly.
- โขSEO Specialists: Encode URLs containing non-ASCII characters to ensure links work correctly when shared on social media and search engines.
- โขDigital Marketers: Encode UTM tracking parameters that include spaces or special symbols for reliable campaign analytics.
- โขQA Engineers: Decode encoded URLs to inspect the actual parameter values passed to backend services during testing.
- โขContent Managers: Decode auto-generated encoded URLs from CMS platforms to identify the original page paths.
๐ฏ Tips
- โธOnly encode the parameter values, not the entire URL. Encoding :// or ? will break the URL structure.
- โธIf decoded output still contains % sequences, the URL was double-encoded โ run the decoder a second time.
- โธWhen sharing URLs with non-ASCII characters on social media, always use the encoded form to prevent broken links.
- โธKnow the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent. This tool behaves like encodeURIComponent.
โ FAQ
Q. Why do URLs need encoding?
A. URLs cannot contain certain characters like spaces or special symbols. Encoding converts these to a safe format for transmission.
Q. What's the difference between %20 and +?
A. %20 is the standard URL encoding for space, while + is used in query strings. This tool uses %20.
Q. Why do non-ASCII URLs look garbled when copied?
A. Non-ASCII characters like Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text cannot appear directly in URLs and are percent-encoded automatically. Browsers display them as readable text in the address bar, but the underlying URL uses encoded form.
Q. What is double encoding?
A. Double encoding occurs when already-encoded characters are encoded again, e.g., %20 becomes %2520. This causes servers to misread parameter values. Always encode only once.
Q. Which characters are safe in URLs without encoding?
A. Unreserved characters โ letters (AโZ, aโz), digits (0โ9), hyphen (-), underscore (_), period (.), and tilde (~) โ can be used directly. All other characters require percent-encoding.
Q. What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
A. encodeURI encodes a full URL while preserving structural characters like :, /, and ?. encodeURIComponent encodes everything, making it suitable for individual query parameter values.