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URL Encoder & Decoder

Encode text so it's safe inside a URL, or decode a URL full of %20s back into readable text.

Use it as often as you like — it's free, with no sign-up and no limits.

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  • Web
  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
  • Updated
Mode
Encode as

“Parameter value” encodes everything except letters, digits and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) — use it for query values. “Whole URL” keeps characters like / ? & = intact.

Everything you type is processed in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to our servers or stored by us.

How to use the URL Encoder & Decoder

  1. Choose Encode or Decode.
  2. Paste your text or URL.
  3. Copy the result.

What does this tool do?

URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Others — spaces, accents, & and ? inside values — are written as % followed by hex codes. Encoding a parameter value escapes everything that could break the URL; encoding a whole URL keeps its structure (: / ? & =) intact.

Why use it?

  • Build links with search terms or special characters.
  • Read encoded URLs from logs and analytics.
  • Debug redirects and tracking links.

Use cases

  • Put search terms, emails or file names into a query string safely.
  • Read percent-encoded URLs from analytics, logs and redirect chains.
  • Decode form submissions that use + for spaces.

Example

“café & croissants” encodes to caf%C3%A9%20%26%20croissants as a parameter value.

Common mistakes

  • Encoding a whole URL as a parameter value: https:// becomes https%3A%2F%2F. Use “Whole URL” to keep : / ? & = intact.
  • Encoding twice: %20 becomes %2520. If you see %25 in a URL, it has probably been encoded twice.
  • Using + for spaces in the path. + only means a space in query strings and form data, not in the path.

Privacy

Everything you type is processed in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to our servers or stored by us. There's no account to create and nothing to install.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between “Parameter value” and “Whole URL”?

Parameter value (encodeURIComponent) escapes every reserved character, so “a b&c=d/é” becomes a%20b%26c%3Dd%2F%C3%A9. Whole URL (encodeURI) keeps the characters that give a URL its structure: https://example.com/a b?q=café becomes https://example.com/a%20b?q=caf%C3%A9.

Should a space be %20 or +?

%20 is correct everywhere. + means a space only in query strings and HTML form data (application/x-www-form-urlencoded). Tick “Use + for spaces” when you need form style.

Why is é encoded as %C3%A9?

URLs encode characters as UTF-8 bytes. é is two bytes in UTF-8 (C3 A9), so it becomes two percent codes.

Last reviewed by the M2Toolkit team.

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