URL Encoder and Decoder – Free Online Tool

URL Encoder / Decoder

Safely encode special characters for web URLs.

\n

What is a URL Encoder and Decoder?

A URL Encoder and Decoder is a free developer utility that safely converts special characters (like spaces, ampersands, or slashes) into their correct percentage-encoded formats so they can be safely transmitted within a web address.

Why We Built This (And Why You Can Trust It)

Web browsers will crash or misroute requests if a URL contains unencoded spaces or symbols. We built this tool so developers can instantly sanitize search queries, API payloads, and query parameters without writing manual encoding scripts or relying on clunky server-side tools.

How to Use the URL Encoder and Decoder

1. Paste your raw text (e.g., ‘Hello World & Friends!’) into the input box.

\n\n\n

2. Click the ‘Encode’ button.

\n\n\n

3. The tool replaces the spaces with `%20` and the ampersand with `%26`.

\n\n\n

4. To reverse the process, paste an encoded URL and click ‘Decode’.

Common Use Cases

  • **API Requests:** Safely append a user’s search query to a REST API endpoint (e.g., `?search=Hello%20World`).
  • **Email Links:** Create mailto: links that pre-fill the subject line with encoded spaces and punctuation.
  • **Affiliate Marketing:** Safely nest tracking URLs inside of other URLs without breaking the destination link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a space become %20?

URLs are restricted to a very specific set of ASCII characters. Any character outside that set must be represented by a `%` symbol followed by its two-digit hexadecimal equivalent. Space is 20 in hexadecimal.

Can I encode a full URL?

You should generally only encode the *parameters* (the query string after the `?`), not the entire URL. If you encode the `http://`, it will break the link because the colon and slashes will be encoded.

Is my data logged?

No. The encoding happens entirely locally using your browser’s native `encodeURIComponent()` function.