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URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode or decode text and URLs instantly — right in your browser, nothing uploaded.
What is URL encoding and why does it matter?
A URL can only contain a limited set of allowed characters. When you need to put a space, non-Latin letters, or symbols like & and # inside a URL parameter (for example after ?q=), those characters have to be converted into a "percent-encoded" format — a space becomes %20, and other characters become sequences of UTF-8-encoded bytes. Without this conversion, a browser or server can misread the address or cut part of it off.
When do you need to decode instead?
The reverse is just as common: when you see an address in the browser bar, a server log file, or a copied link that is full of sequences like %20 and %3D, decoding turns that encoded text back into a readable form so you can see what the actual parameter was.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does URL encoding do?
It converts special or disallowed characters (like spaces, #, & and non-Latin letters) into a percent-encoded format such as %20, so the address is read correctly by browsers and servers.
Why does decoding sometimes fail?
If the input text contains an incomplete or invalid percent sequence (for example a % not followed by two hex digits), decoding is not possible and this tool shows an error message.
Is this tool suitable for encoding an entire URL?
This tool uses encodeURIComponent, which is meant for parts of a URL (like query parameters). If you want the whole address — including :// — to stay intact, only encode the specific part you need.
Is my data ever stored or sent anywhere?
No. All processing happens right in your browser, and no text is ever sent to any server.