About This URL Encoder/Decoder

Our free online URL encoder and decoder helps developers safely encode special characters in URLs and query strings. Perfect for web development, API integration, and ensuring URLs are properly formatted for transmission over the internet.

Key Features

🔄 Encode & Decode

Switch between encoding text to URL-safe format and decoding URLs back to readable text.

⚡ Real-Time Conversion

Instant encoding and decoding as you type. See results immediately without clicking buttons.

📋 Quick Copy

Copy encoded or decoded URLs to clipboard with one click for easy use in your projects.

🔒 100% Private

All processing happens locally in your browser. Your URLs never leave your device.

How to Use the URL Encoder

  1. Choose Mode: Click "Encoder" to encode or "Decoder" to decode URLs
  2. Enter Text: Type or paste your text or URL in the input box
  3. View Result: The conversion happens automatically in real-time
  4. Copy Result: Click "Copy Result" to copy the output to clipboard

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. Special characters are replaced with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits.

Common Encodings:

  • Space: %20 or +
  • !: %21
  • #: %23
  • $: %24
  • &: %26
  • =: %3D
  • ?: %3F

Why Use URL Encoding?

  • Query Parameters: Safely pass data in URL query strings
  • API Requests: Encode parameters for REST API calls
  • Form Submissions: Encode form data for GET requests
  • Special Characters: Handle spaces, symbols, and non-ASCII characters
  • Security: Prevent URL injection and parsing errors
  • Compatibility: Ensure URLs work across all browsers and servers

Common Use Cases

🔗 Query Strings

Encode parameters for URLs: ?name=John%20Doe&city=New%20York

🌐 API Integration

Encode data for REST API endpoints and search queries.

📝 Form Data

Encode form submissions sent via GET method.

🔍 Search Queries

Encode search terms with special characters and spaces.

Characters That Need Encoding

These characters have special meaning in URLs and must be encoded:

  • Reserved Characters: : / ? # [ ] @ ! $ & ' ( ) * + , ; =
  • Unsafe Characters: Space " < > % { } | \ ^ ~
  • Non-ASCII Characters: Any character outside ASCII range (0-127)

URL Encoding Best Practices

  • Always encode user input before adding to URLs
  • Encode query parameter values, not the entire URL
  • Use UTF-8 encoding for international characters
  • Don't double-encode already encoded URLs
  • Test encoded URLs in different browsers

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