URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode URLs and query strings online. Handle special characters safely with this free, private, browser-based URL encoder/decoder.
How to use the URL Encoder / Decoder
- Choose Encode to percent-encode text, or Decode to reverse it.
- Type or paste into the input — the result updates instantly on the right.
- Toggle Encode entire URL to keep structural characters like
: / ? & #intact. - Click Copy to grab the result, or Swap to move it back to the input.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL (percent) encoding?
It replaces characters that are unsafe in a URL with a
% followed by their hex code — for example a space becomes %20. This keeps query strings and links valid.What does "Encode entire URL" do?
When on, it uses
encodeURI, which preserves characters that give a URL its structure (: / ? & = # +). When off, it uses encodeURIComponent, which encodes those too — ideal for a single query value.Why does decoding fail sometimes?
Decoding fails when the input contains a malformed percent sequence, like a lone
% or %ZZ. Fix or remove the stray sequence and try again.Is my input sent anywhere?
No. Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.