When do I need URL encoding?

Whenever you put user text, spaces or special characters into a URL or query string, encoding keeps the link valid.

What is the difference between encoding and decoding?

Encoding makes text URL-safe; decoding turns an encoded URL back into readable text.

Should I encode the whole URL or just parts?

Encode individual parts such as query values, not the entire address, otherwise the slashes and colons in the URL would be encoded too.

Developer Tools

URL Encoder / Decoder

Percent-encode or decode URLs and query strings.

Free browser toolRuns in your browserNo sign-up

Percent-encoding workspace

Encode URL components without breaking an entire address

Percent-encode a path segment, query value or other URL component, or decode escaped text back into readable Unicode.

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Encode individual values or path segments. Encoding a complete URL also escapes structural characters such as :, /, ? and &.

Private by design. Input is processed inside this browser tab and is not sent to ToolsOnDuty.

About the URL Encoder / Decoder

Percent-encode text so it is safe inside URLs and query strings, or decode an encoded URL back into readable text.

Essential when building links, debugging redirects or handling query parameters and form data.

Percent-encoding replaces unsafe characters such as spaces, &, ? and # with a % followed by their hex code, so the value survives being placed in a URL.

Key features

Encode and decode URL components
Handles spaces and special characters
Unicode-safe percent encoding
Copy, download or reuse the result as input
Visible errors for malformed percent sequences
Private, no server calls

How to use

1Paste a URL component or load the realistic query-value sample.
2Choose Encode component or Decode.
3Review any malformed percent-encoding error.
4Copy, download or move the result back into the input.
5Copy the transformed URL component after checking the result.

Examples

Encode a query value

Input: name=John Doe&city=New York

Output: name%3DJohn%20Doe%26city%3DNew%20York

Reserved characters like spaces, = and & are percent-encoded so the URL stays valid.

Decode

Input: hello%20world%21

Output: hello world!

Percent-encoded sequences are converted back to normal characters.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need URL encoding?: Whenever you put user text, spaces or special characters into a URL or query string, encoding keeps the link valid.
What is the difference between encoding and decoding?: Encoding makes text URL-safe; decoding turns an encoded URL back into readable text.
Should I encode the whole URL or just parts?: Encode individual parts such as query values, not the entire address, otherwise the slashes and colons in the URL would be encoded too.

Developer GuidesBase64 vs URL Encoding: What Is the Difference?Read guide

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