URL Encoding & Decoding Tool

Enter URL or Text:

Paste any URL or text containing special characters

Quick Examples

🔍 Search URL with Spaces

https://example.com/search?q=hello world&category=news

Click to try encoding this URL

🔧 API URL (Encoded)

https://example.com/api/users?filter=name%3DJohn%26age%3E25

Click to try decoding this URL

📧 Email Address

user@domain.com

Email addresses need encoding in URLs

💬 Text with Special Characters

Hello World! How are you? 100% great!

Text with spaces, punctuation, and symbols

Understanding URL Encoding

URL encoding (also called percent encoding) is a method to encode special characters in URLs so they can be safely transmitted over the internet. Certain characters have special meanings in URLs and must be encoded to avoid conflicts.

Why URL Encoding is Necessary

🌐 Web Standards

URLs can only contain ASCII characters (0-127)

🔒 Data Integrity

Prevents special characters from breaking URL structure

🌍 International Support

Enables URLs to contain non-English characters

🔧 API Compatibility

Ensures proper data transmission in web APIs

Common Characters That Need Encoding

Character	Encoded	Description
(space)	%20	Space character
!	%21	Exclamation mark
#	%23	Hash/Fragment identifier
%	%25	Percent sign
&	%26	Ampersand (parameter separator)
+	%2B	Plus sign

Common Use Cases

**Search queries** with spaces and special characters
**API parameters** containing complex data
**Form data** submission with user input
**Email addresses** in mailto links
**File paths** with spaces or special characters
**International URLs** with non-ASCII characters

Best Practices

Always Encode User Input

Never trust user input - always encode data before including in URLs

Decode Before Processing

Decode URLs on the server side before using the data

Use Proper Encoding Method

Use UTF-8 encoding for international character support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between URL encoding and HTML encoding?

URL encoding is for URLs and uses % followed by hex codes. HTML encoding is for HTML content and uses entities like < for <. They serve different purposes.

When should I encode vs decode URLs?

Encode when putting data into URLs (like form submissions or API calls). Decode when receiving and processing URL data on the server side.

Is this tool secure for sensitive data?

Yes, all encoding/decoding happens in your browser - no data is sent to our servers. However, avoid using sensitive data in URLs as they may be logged.

Can I encode entire URLs or just parts?

You can encode both. Typically, you encode only the query parameters and fragment parts, not the entire URL structure (protocol, domain, path separators).