URL Encode & Decode
Percent-encode text for URLs or decode it back. Runs locally in your browser.
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) replaces characters that aren't allowed in a URL with a % followed by their hexadecimal byte value. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. This ensures the URL is transmitted and interpreted correctly.
When do you need it?
- Passing values in query strings (e.g. search terms with spaces or symbols).
- Encoding parameters that contain
&,=,?, or/. - Building safe links programmatically.
- Decoding URLs from logs or analytics to read them.
encodeURIComponent vs encodeURI
This tool uses encodeURIComponent, which encodes a single URL component (like a query parameter value) and escapes characters such as &, =, and /. Use it for individual values rather than whole URLs.
Is my data safe?
Yes — encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI?
encodeURIComponent escapes a single value, including characters like the ampersand, equals, question mark, and slash — ideal for query-parameter values. encodeURI leaves those structural characters intact for encoding a whole URL. This tool uses encodeURIComponent.
Why does a space become %20?
Spaces are not allowed in URLs, so they are percent-encoded to their byte value, %20. The same applies to other reserved or unsafe characters.
Is it free and private?
Yes — it's free and unlimited, and encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser, so nothing is sent to a server.