URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode text to URL-safe format or decode encoded URLs. Essential tool for developers and SEO.
About URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode and decode URLs instantly with our free online tool. Perfect for web developers, API testers, and anyone working with URLs containing special characters. Our tool converts characters into URL-safe format (percent-encoding) and decodes encoded URLs back to readable text.
Whether you're building query parameters, debugging API requests, or handling URLs with spaces and special characters, our encoder/decoder makes it simple. Process URLs securely in your browser with instant results.
Often used alongside our Case Converter for formatting URLs or QR Code Generator for creating scannable links.
Why Encode URLs?
URL encoding converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character-set. Since URLs often contain characters outside the ASCII set, the URL has to be converted into a valid ASCII format. For example, spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, and special characters like é become %C3%A9. This ensures URLs work correctly across all browsers, servers, and systems, preventing errors in API requests, form submissions, and link sharing.
When to Use
- Encoding: When you have data (like query parameters) that contains special characters (spaces, symbols).
- Decoding: When you have a URL with %20 and other encoded sequences and want to read the original text.
Key Features
- Encode & Decode: Convert URLs in both directions.
- Instant Results: Real-time URL transformation.
- Developer Tool: Essential for API development and testing.
- 100% Secure: All processing happens in your browser.
- Free & Unlimited: Encode/decode as many URLs as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I encode a URL?
Encode URLs when they contain special characters, spaces, or non-ASCII characters. This is essential for query parameters, API requests, and ensuring URLs work correctly across all browsers and systems.
What's the difference between encoding and decoding?
Encoding converts special characters to percent-encoded format (e.g., space becomes %20). Decoding reverses this process, converting %20 back to a space. Both are necessary for proper URL handling.
Does this support UTF-8 characters?
Yes! Our tool fully supports UTF-8 encoding, allowing you to encode and decode URLs containing international characters, emojis, and other Unicode symbols.