URL Encoder & Decoder - Free URL Encode Tool

Encode URLs for safe transmission or decode URL-encoded strings instantly. Essential tool for web developers and API testing.

Enter a URL to encode it for safe transmission.
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Common URL Encodings
space → %20
! → %21
# → %23
$ → %24
& → %26
+ → %2B

About URL Encoder & Decoder Tool

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a mechanism for encoding special characters in URLs. It converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. Special characters like spaces, ampersands, and non-ASCII characters are converted to percent-encoded format (e.g., space becomes %20). URL encoding is essential for passing data in query strings, form submissions, and API requests.

How to Use URL Encoder/Decoder

  1. Select Mode: Choose "Encode" to convert URLs to percent-encoded format, or "Decode" to convert back to readable format.
  2. Enter URL: Paste your URL or URL-encoded string into the input field.
  3. Convert: Click the "Encode" or "Decode" button to perform the conversion.
  4. Copy Result: Use the "Copy to Clipboard" button to copy the converted URL.
  5. Test & Verify: Test your encoded URLs in browsers or API requests.

Why Use URL Encoding?

URL encoding is crucial for web development and API integration. It ensures that special characters in URLs don't break functionality or cause security issues. Without proper URL encoding, spaces and special characters can cause 404 errors, broken links, or security vulnerabilities. URL encoding is mandatory for query parameters, form data, and any user-generated content in URLs.

Common Use Cases

  • Query Parameters: Encode search terms and filter values in URL query strings.
  • Form Submissions: Safely transmit form data with special characters via GET requests.
  • API Requests: Encode parameters in REST API calls and webhook URLs.
  • Social Sharing: Create shareable links with encoded titles and descriptions.
  • Email Links: Encode mailto links with subject lines and body text.
  • Redirect URLs: Safely pass destination URLs as parameters.

Who Should Use This Tool?

This URL encoder/decoder is essential for web developers, API developers, QA testers, SEO specialists, and anyone working with URLs. Whether you're building web applications, testing APIs, debugging URL issues, or creating shareable links, this tool provides quick and reliable URL encoding and decoding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

URL encoding (percent encoding) converts special characters into a format safe for URLs. It's needed because URLs can only contain certain characters (letters, numbers, and a few symbols). Special characters like spaces, ampersands, and non-ASCII characters must be encoded to prevent broken links and security issues.

Spaces in URLs are encoded as %20 or + (in query strings). Simply paste your URL with spaces into the encoder, select "Encode" mode, and click the encode button. The tool will automatically convert all spaces and special characters to their percent-encoded equivalents.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) encoding are essentially the same - both use percent encoding. URI is a broader term that includes URLs. The encoding rules are identical, converting special characters to %XX format where XX is the hexadecimal value.

Yes! Select "Decode" mode, paste your percent-encoded URL (containing %20, %3A, etc.), and click decode. The tool will convert all percent-encoded characters back to their original readable format. This is useful for debugging and understanding encoded URLs.

No, they're different. URL encoding uses percent encoding (%20 for space) for URLs, while HTML encoding uses HTML entities (&nbsp; for space, &lt; for <). Each serves a different purpose - URL encoding for URLs and HTML encoding for displaying special characters in HTML content.

Characters that need encoding include: spaces, &, ?, =, #, %, /, :, and all non-ASCII characters. Reserved characters like ? and & have special meaning in URLs, so they must be encoded when used as data. Unreserved characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~) don't need encoding.