URL Encode / Decode

Free Online URL Encoder / Decoder

URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. Certain characters have special meanings in URLs — spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, equals signs become %3D, and so on. This tool supports two encoding modes: the standard encodeURI() method which preserves the URL structure (keeping slashes, colons, and hashes intact), and the encodeURIComponent() mode (enable "Encode All Characters") which encodes every special character for use in query string parameters. The decoder converts percent-encoded strings back to their original form, making it easy to read or process URL-encoded data from web forms, API responses, or analytics tracking parameters.

When to Use URL Encoding

URL encoding is essential whenever you include user-generated content or special characters in a URL. Common scenarios include encoding search queries in custom search engines, preparing query parameters for API calls, decoding tracking URLs from marketing platforms, processing form data submitted via GET requests, and generating shareable links with encoded parameters. All processing happens locally using the browser's built-in encodeURI(), encodeURIComponent(), and decodeURIComponent() functions. Your data never leaves your device — no server logs, no caching, no privacy concerns.