Why do spaces become %20?

In the ASCII character set, the space character has the decimal value 32, which is 20 in hexadecimal. Therefore, spaces are encoded as %20 in URLs.

Yes, absolutely. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. No data is ever sent to our servers, ensuring your information remains private.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI is used for full URLs and preserves special characters like :/?# that have meaning in a URL. encodeURIComponent is used for individual URL parameters and encodes those characters to ensure they don't break the URL structure.

Yes, this URL Encoder/Decoder is 100% free to use with no usage limits.

URL Encoder & Decoder: Percent-Encode & Decode Online

Q: What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (or percent-encoding) is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). Characters that are not allowed in a URL (like spaces) are replaced with a % followed by their two-digit hexadecimal equivalent.

Q: How do I decode a URL?

Simply paste the URL containing percent signs (like %20, %3A) into the input box and click "Decode". The tool will convert it back to normal text.

Convert text characters to a URL-safe format and back instantly. This tool handles standard percent-encoding (like converting spaces to %20) to ensure your data is safe for query parameters, API calls, and web addresses.

Last updated: 2025-01-27

Input

Text to Encode or Decode

Output

Result

Key Features

Instant URL encoding and decoding
Client-side processing for privacy (no server data transfer)
One-click copy to clipboard functionality
Simple, clean interface for quick conversions
Error detection for invalid URL sequences

How to Use URL Encoder/Decoder

Enter Text: Type or paste the text string or URL you want to convert in the input area.
Select Action: Click Encode to convert text to URL-safe format, or Decode to revert a URL string to plain text.
Get Result: The converted text appearing in the result box is ready to be used.
Copy: Use the copy button to quickly save the result to your clipboard.

Why Use This URL Encoder?

URLs can only contain a limited set of ASCII characters. If you try to send special characters—like spaces, ampersands (&), or emoji—directly in a URL, it breaks the link or the API request.

**URL Encoding** (or percent-encoding) solves this by translating unsafe characters into a standard format (e.g., a space becomes %20). This is crucial for developers debugging REST APIs, marketers tracking campaign parameters (UTM tags), or anyone sharing complex links. Our tool guarantees valid formatting so your web requests succeed every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. It replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20.

Why do I see %20 in my URLs?

The %20 represents a space character. Since spaces are not allowed in URLs, they are encoded as %20.

Is my data secure?

Yes. All encoding and decoding is performed locally in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any external server.

What characters are encoded?

This tool uses the standard `encodeURIComponent` function, which encodes special characters including: , / ? : @ & = + $ # and spaces.

How do I decode a URL string?

Paste your encoded URL (with % signs) into the input box and click "Decode". The tool will revert it to its original human-readable form.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, our URL Encoder/Decoder is completely free, works offline, and has no usage limits.