URL Encode / Decode

URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a method used to convert characters into a format that can be safely transmitted within a URL. URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character set, so characters outside this set — including spaces, special characters, and Unicode text — must be replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by their hexadecimal representation.

Our free online URL encoder and decoder lets you quickly convert plain text to URL-encoded format and vice versa. This is essential for web developers working with query string parameters, form submissions, API requests, and any scenario where data must be embedded within a URL. Common characters that require encoding include spaces (%20), ampersands (%26), equals signs (%3D), and non-ASCII characters.

The tool uses JavaScript's built-in encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions, which handle the full range of Unicode characters and follow the RFC 3986 standard for percent-encoding. All processing happens entirely in your browser — no data is ever sent to a server, making it safe for working with sensitive URL parameters, API keys, or authentication tokens.

1. Select the mode — Choose "Encode" to convert plain text to URL-encoded format, or "Decode" to convert URL-encoded text back to plain text.
2. Enter your input — Type or paste your text (for encoding) or URL-encoded string (for decoding) in the input area.
3. Click Convert — Press the Encode or Decode button to perform the conversion.
4. Copy the result — Click the Copy Output button to copy the result to your clipboard.
5. Use Swap — Click the Swap button to quickly reverse the operation, using the output as the new input.