How to Encode or Decode URLs
- 1Select "Encode" to percent-encode a string, or "Decode" to convert percent-encoded text back to readable form.
- 2Choose between "Component" mode (encodeURIComponent — for query parameters) or "Full URL" mode (encodeURI — preserves URL structure).
- 3Paste your text or URL in the input field.
- 4Click "Convert" to encode or decode the input.
- 5Copy the result or use "Swap" to reverse the operation.
Features
✓URL-encode text using percent encoding (RFC 3986)
✓Decode percent-encoded URLs back to readable text
✓Two modes: Component (encodeURIComponent) and Full URL (encodeURI)
✓Handles special characters, spaces, and Unicode
✓Swap input and output with one click
✓Copy result to clipboard instantly
✓Runs entirely in your browser — no data sent to servers
✓Perfect for debugging query strings and API parameters
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?▼
URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces unsafe characters in a URL with a '%' followed by their hexadecimal value. For example, a space becomes '%20' and '&' becomes '%26'. This ensures URLs are transmitted correctly over the internet.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?▼
encodeURI encodes a complete URL but preserves characters like ':', '/', '?', and '&' that are part of URL syntax. encodeURIComponent encodes everything, making it ideal for encoding query parameter values where those characters should be escaped.
When should I URL-encode my data?▼
You should URL-encode data when passing it as query parameters, form data, or any part of a URL that might contain special characters. This includes user input, file names, and any text that might contain spaces or symbols.
Why do spaces sometimes appear as '+' and sometimes as '%20'?▼
In application/x-www-form-urlencoded format (HTML forms), spaces are encoded as '+'. In standard percent encoding (RFC 3986), spaces are encoded as '%20'. Both are valid in their respective contexts. This tool uses '%20' (standard percent encoding).