ENCODING TOOL · CLIENT-SIDE
URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode special characters for safe URLs or decode percent-encoded strings back to readable text. All processing happens in your browser.
Input
Output
About URL Encoding
Percent encoding
Spaces become %20, & becomes %26, and special characters are represented by %XX format.
Query parameters
Essential for safe query strings. Values with & or = must be encoded to preserve structure.
Form submissions
HTML form data is URL-encoded automatically before sending to the server.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent encoding) converts characters that are unsafe for URLs into a %XX format. For example, a space becomes %20, and & becomes %26. This ensures data is transmitted correctly through URLs.
When do I need to URL encode?
You need URL encoding when constructing URLs with special characters in query parameters, form values, or paths containing non-ASCII characters. Browsers handle this automatically for form submissions, but you need it when building URLs programmatically or in API calls.
What characters need URL encoding?
Characters that need encoding include spaces, non-ASCII characters, and reserved URL characters like !, #, $, &, ', (, ), *, +, ,, /, :, ;, =, ?, @, [, ], and {. Safe unreserved characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~) do not need encoding.