URL Encode & Decode Online
Encode or decode URLs and query strings instantly in your browser.
Processed locally in your browserEncode or decode URLs and query string parameters with this free online URL encoder/decoder.
Reserved Characters Reference
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How to Use
Encode or decode URLs and query string parameters with this free online URL encoder/decoder.
- Choose your mode. Click Encode to percent-encode text for use in URLs, or Decode to convert percent-encoded strings back to readable text.
- Select the encoding method. Pick encodeURIComponent for encoding individual query parameter values, or encodeURI for encoding a complete URL while preserving its structural characters like / and ?.
- Enter your input. Paste a URL, query string, or plain text into the input field. You can also upload a text file. The output updates in real time.
- Copy or download. Use the copy button to grab the encoded or decoded result, or click Download to save it as a text file.
URL encoding is essential for building safe links, submitting form data, and constructing API requests. Characters like spaces, ampersands, and non-ASCII letters must be percent-encoded to avoid breaking URL syntax. All processing runs in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
Working with other encoding formats? Our Base64 Encode & Decode tool handles Base64 encoding and decoding for data URIs, API payloads, and more.
Features
- ✓URL encode & decode
- ✓encodeURIComponent & encodeURI modes
- ✓File upload support
- ✓One-click copy & swap
- ✓Real-time conversion
- ✓Full UTF-8 support
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is URL encoding?
- URL encoding (also called percent encoding) is the process of converting characters that are not allowed in a URL into a safe format by replacing them with a percent sign followed by their two-digit hexadecimal code. For example, a space becomes %20. This URL encode decode tool handles the conversion automatically for any input text.
- Why do I need to encode URLs?
- URLs may only contain a limited set of ASCII characters. Special characters like spaces, ampersands, equals signs, and non-ASCII letters (e.g., accented or Cyrillic characters) must be URL encoded before being included in a query string or path segment, otherwise browsers and servers may misinterpret or reject the request.
- Which characters need to be URL encoded?
- Characters outside the unreserved set — letters A–Z, digits 0–9, and the symbols `-._~` — must be percent encoded in most URL contexts. Reserved characters like `?`, `&`, `=`, `#`, `/`, and `:` have special meaning in URLs and must be encoded when used as literal data values rather than URL structure. This URL encode decode tool handles all cases correctly.
- What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
- `encodeURI` encodes a complete URL, leaving characters like `/`, `?`, `&`, and `#` intact because they are part of the URL structure. `encodeURIComponent` encodes a single URL component (e.g., a query parameter value), and percent-encodes those structural characters as well. Use `encodeURIComponent` when URL encoding individual parameter values to prevent them from being parsed as URL delimiters.
- When should I URL decode a string?
- URL decode a string when you receive a percent-encoded value from a URL query parameter, form submission, or API response and need to display or process its original readable form. For example, a server receiving `q=hello%20world` should URL decode the value to get `hello world` before using it in a search query or database lookup.