URL Encoder/Decoder — Encode and Decode URLs with Percent-Encoding Instantly
Percent-encode special characters for safe use in URLs, or decode them back.
What Is URL Encode / Decode?
Percent-encode special characters for safe use in URLs, or decode them back.
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not allowed in URLs into a safe format — spaces become %20, ampersands become %26, and characters like ?, =, and # become their encoded equivalents. Every time you submit a form, build a query string, or construct an API endpoint URL programmatically, URL encoding ensures the URL remains valid and unambiguous.
Decoding is equally important during debugging — when an API returns a URL or logs one, the percent-encoded form is often unreadable. Pasting it here instantly reveals what values were actually sent.
hello world & more→hello%20world%20%26%20moreWhen to Use the URL Encode / Decode
- →Building API query strings — parameters containing spaces, symbols, or non-ASCII characters must be URL-encoded before appending to a URL
- →Debugging encoded URLs — when a URL returns unexpected results, decoding the percent-encoded query string reveals what was actually sent to the server
- →Encoding search queries — user search input with spaces and special characters must be URL-encoded before building search result URLs
- →Constructing mailto: links — email links with pre-filled subjects and bodies require URL-encoded subjects (spaces → %20)
- →Reading encoded API logs — server logs often store URLs with percent-encoded parameters; decode them to read the actual query values
How to Use the URL Encode / Decode
- Select Encode or Decode using the toggle buttons.
- Paste your text into the Input Text box.
- The result appears instantly on the right.
- Click Copy to copy the output to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about URL Encode / Decode
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts special characters in a URL into a %XX hex format — for example, a space becomes %20 and & becomes %26 — so the URL is valid and transmits correctly.