What is the URL Encoder / Decoder?
The URL Encoder / Decoder is a browser-based tool that converts text to and from percent-encoded URL format. It supports both standard URI encoding and full URI component encoding, making it easy to safely include special characters and non-ASCII text in URLs and query parameters.
Why Use a URL Encoder / Decoder?
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII text must be percent-encoded before they can be safely transmitted. A URL encoder / decoder helps you:
- Encode User Input: Convert user-provided text into a safe format for use in query strings and URL paths.
- Decode Encoded URLs: Read and understand percent-encoded URLs from logs, API responses, and browser address bars.
- Debug Web Requests: Quickly decode encoded API requests and form submissions to inspect their actual content.
- Prevent Injection Issues: Proper URL encoding ensures user input is treated as data rather than URL syntax, preventing injection attacks.
Features of Our URL Encoder / Decoder Tool
Our URL Encoder / Decoder provides flexible encoding modes to suit any use case:
- URI Encoding Mode: Encodes special characters while preserving the overall URL structure, leaving characters like slashes and colons intact.
- URI Component Encoding Mode: Encodes all special characters including URI delimiters, making it safe to use in query parameter values and fragments.
- Instant Decoding: Switch to decode mode to convert percent-encoded text back to its original readable form.
- Real-Time Conversion: Results update as you type, giving immediate feedback without clicking a button.
- One-Click Copy: Copy the encoded or decoded result to your clipboard instantly.
How to Use the URL Encoder / Decoder Tool
- Choose a Mode: Select Encode or Decode depending on whether you want to convert text to a URL-safe format or read an encoded string.
- Select the Encoding Type: Pick URI encoding to preserve URL structure or URI Component encoding to encode all special characters for use in query values.
- Enter Your Text: Type or paste the text you want to encode or the percent-encoded string you want to decode.
- Copy the Result: Use the copy button to save the converted output for use in your application.
Understanding URL Encoding
URL encoding, also called percent encoding, replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and a hash becomes %23. Two JavaScript functions handle this:
- encodeURI(): Encodes a complete URL, preserving structural characters like slashes, colons, and question marks.
- encodeURIComponent(): Encodes all special characters including URI delimiters. Use this for individual query parameter values and fragments.
Try Our URL Encoder / Decoder Tool
Need to encode a URL for an API call or decode a cryptic query string? Use our URL Encoder / Decoder to convert any text instantly — right in your browser with no data sent to any server.