URL Encoder & Decoder

Encode special characters for use in URLs or decode URL-encoded strings. This tool helps web developers create valid URLs and troubleshoot encoding issues in web applications and APIs.

URL Input
Encoding Options
Encoding Type
Additional Options
Encoded URL

How to Use the URL Encoder & Decoder

  1. Choose the mode: Encode URL, Decode URL, or Parse URL.
  2. Type or paste your URL or text in the input area.
  3. For encoding, select the appropriate encoding options.
  4. Click the process button to encode, decode, or parse the URL.
  5. View the results in the output area or URL components section.
  6. Copy the processed URL to your clipboard as needed.

About URL Encoding

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) under certain circumstances. URL encoding is used when placing text in a query string to avoid it being interpreted as URL syntax, and to handle characters outside the ASCII set.

When to Use URL Encoding
  • Query Parameters: When adding parameters to a URL that contain special characters.
  • Form Submissions: When submitting form data via GET or POST methods.
  • API Requests: When making API calls that require URL parameters.
  • Internationalization: When URLs contain non-ASCII characters or Unicode.
  • Avoiding Conflicts: When using characters that have special meaning in URLs (like ?, &, =, #).
Characters That Need Encoding
  • Reserved Characters: : / ? # [ ] @ ! $ & ' ( ) * + , ; =
  • Unsafe Characters: Space, ", <, >, %, {, }, |, \, ^, `
  • Non-ASCII Characters: Characters outside the ASCII set (e.g., é, ñ, 漢)
  • Control Characters: ASCII characters 0-31 and 127
URL Encoding Examples
https://example.com/search?query=hello world
https://example.com/search?query=hello%20world
https://example.com/path?name=John&age=30&location=New York
https://example.com/path?name=John&age=30&location=New%20York
https://example.com/search?q=special chars: !@#$%^&*()
https://example.com/search?q=special%20chars%3A%20%21%40%23%24%25%5E%26%2A%28%29
https://example.com/path?title=Café & Restaurant
https://example.com/path?title=Caf%C3%A9%20%26%20Restaurant
All URL processing is done locally in your browser. Your URLs and data are never sent to any server, ensuring your privacy and security.

Advertisement Space

Related Tools
Base64 Encoder/Decoder JSON Formatter HTML Minifier Markdown to HTML Text Case Converter
URL Encoding Tips
Different Encoding Functions
  • encodeURIComponent(): Encodes all characters that are not allowed in URL components, including: ? & = / : ; + # @ ( ) $ , !
  • encodeURI(): Encodes special characters except those that are part of a valid URL, like / ? : @ & = + $ #
  • application/x-www-form-urlencoded: Used for form submissions, encodes spaces as + and adds name=value pairs.
Common URL Encoding Issues
  • Double Encoding: Encoding an already encoded URL can cause issues (e.g., %20 becomes %2520).
  • Incomplete Encoding: Not encoding all necessary characters can break URLs.
  • Encoding Path Segments: Different parts of a URL require different encoding approaches.
  • Unicode Issues: International characters need proper encoding to work across all systems.
  • Length Limitations: Encoded URLs can become very long and may exceed server limits.
Popular Tools
Image Converter QR Code Generator Password Generator Word Counter

Advertisement Space