URL Encode & Decode
Encode and decode URL (percent-encoding) with UTF-8 support. Instant, private, browser-based. No upload, no signup.
Local processingWhat is URL Encode & Decode?
URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a mechanism for encoding reserved and unsafe characters in a URL by replacing them with % followed by their hexadecimal ASCII value. For example, a space becomes %20. It is defined in RFC 3986.
How It Works
URL encoding scans the input string and replaces each unsafe character with a triplet: % followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's byte value. Safe characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, - _ . ~) are left as-is. Decoding reverses this process, converting %XX triplets back to the original characters.
Common Use Cases
- Query parameters — encode spaces, & and = in URL parameter values
- Form data — application/x-www-form-urlencoded format uses percent-encoding
- URL path segments — encode special characters in path components
- API requests — safely pass arbitrary text in URL parameters
Technical Details
Standard: RFC 3986. Safe characters (unreserved): A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~. Reserved characters are encoded when they would conflict with URL syntax. JavaScript encodeURIComponent() encodes all characters except A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~, !, *, ', (, ). encodeURI() preserves reserved characters like /, ?, &, = for use on full URLs.
How to Use
Enter your input above. The result updates automatically. Use the copy button to copy the result.
Privacy
All processing happens in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to any server.
FAQ
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) converts special characters to a %XX format (e.g. spaces become %20) so they can be safely included in a URL.
What is URL decoding?
URL decoding converts percent-encoded characters back to their original form (e.g. %20 becomes a space).
Is this URL Encoder / Decoder free?
Yes, completely free. No signup required.
Does this tool upload my data?
No. All processing happens locally in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.
What is the difference between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI?
encodeURIComponent encodes all special characters (for query parameter values), while encodeURI preserves reserved characters like /, ?, and & (for full URLs). This tool uses encodeURIComponent for encoding.