URL Encoder/Decoder

URL Encoder/Decoder Tool - Convert URLs Safely

Our free online URL Encoder/Decoder tool helps you convert special characters in URLs to a web-safe format (percent-encoding) or decode encoded URLs back to their original form. This essential web development tool ensures your URLs work correctly across all browsers and platforms.

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). It converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the internet. Only certain characters in a URL can be used unencoded - all others must be converted to a % followed by two hexadecimal digits.

When to Use URL Encoding

• When including special characters in query parameters
• When passing data through URLs that may contain spaces or symbols
• When creating SEO-friendly URLs with special characters
• When working with APIs that require encoded parameters
• When debugging URL-related issues in web applications

How Our URL Encoder/Decoder Works

Our tool provides three encoding options:

• Standard Encoding: Encodes only characters that need encoding (spaces, symbols, non-ASCII)
• Full Encoding: Encodes every character in the input string
• Spaces Only: Encodes just spaces to %20, leaving other characters unchanged

The decoder function converts percent-encoded characters back to their original form, making it easy to read encoded URLs.

Common URL Encoded Characters

Here are some frequently used encoded characters:

• Space: %20
• Exclamation mark: %21
• Double quote: %22
• Hash/Pound: %23
• Dollar sign: %24
• Percent: %25
• Ampersand: %26
• Single quote: %27
• Plus: %2B
• Comma: %2C
• Forward slash: %2F
• Colon: %3A
• Semicolon: %3B
• Equals: %3D
• Question mark: %3F
• At symbol: %40

Why Use Our URL Encoding Tool?

Our URL Encoder/Decoder offers several advantages:

• Instant Results: Changes appear as you type with no page reload needed
• Multiple Encoding Options: Choose the right encoding method for your needs
• Privacy Focused: All processing happens in your browser - no data is sent to servers
• Developer Friendly: Clean interface with monospace fonts for accurate character counting
• Mobile Optimized: Works perfectly on all devices including smartphones and tablets

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
A: encodeURI is meant for encoding entire URLs, while encodeURIComponent is for encoding URL components (like query parameters). Our tool uses encodeURIComponent-style encoding by default.

Q: When should I use full encoding vs standard encoding?
A: Use standard encoding for normal URLs. Full encoding is useful when you need to encode every character, such as when dealing with binary data in URLs.

Q: Is URL encoding the same as HTML encoding?
A: No, they serve different purposes. URL encoding is for URLs while HTML encoding is for HTML content. They use different encoding schemes.