URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode URLs online. Support for special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters with auto-encode on input.
About URL Encoder / Decoder
Our free online URL Encoder / Decoder is a powerful tool that converts text to and from URL-encoded format. URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) under certain circumstances.
URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, spaces are encoded as %20, and special characters like &, =, and ? are encoded to prevent them from being interpreted as part of the URL structure.
This tool processes your input entirely in the browser using JavaScript, ensuring your data never leaves your device. Encode or decode URLs instantly with support for both encodeURIComponent and encodeURI methods.
The auto-encode/decode feature updates the output in real-time as you type, making it convenient for quick conversions. You can also swap input and output for bidirectional conversion with a single click.
Features
Fast Encoding
Encode and decode URLs instantly with no registration or limits. Completely free to use.
Auto-Calculate
Automatically update the output as you type for real-time URL conversion.
Unicode Support
Full support for non-ASCII characters including Chinese, Japanese, and emoji characters.
Swap Input/Output
Quickly swap input and output for easy bidirectional conversion.
One-Click Copy
Copy the encoded or decoded result to clipboard with a single click.
Privacy First
All processing happens in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.
How to Use
Enter Your Text
Type or paste the text or URL you want to encode or decode into the input editor on the left.
Select Mode and Method
Choose Encode or Decode mode, and select encodeURIComponent or encodeURI method.
Encode or Decode
Click Encode / Decode or enable auto-calculate for real-time URL conversion.
Copy the Result
Click Copy to copy the encoded or decoded result to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) is a method of converting characters that are not allowed in URLs into a valid format. It replaces unsafe characters with a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20 and & becomes %26.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a complete URI and does not encode characters that have special meaning in a URI (like :, /, ?, &). encodeURIComponent encodes a URI component and encodes all characters except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ). Use encodeURIComponent for query parameter values.
Why do URLs need to be encoded?
URLs can only contain a limited set of ASCII characters. Characters like spaces, ampersands, and non-ASCII characters must be encoded to ensure the URL is properly interpreted by browsers and servers. This prevents ambiguity and ensures data integrity in URL transmission.
Can this tool handle Chinese and other Unicode characters?
Yes, this tool fully supports Unicode characters including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and emoji characters. They will be properly encoded into their percent-encoded UTF-8 representation.
How do I decode a URL that has + instead of %20?
In some contexts (like application/x-www-form-urlencoded data), + represents a space. This tool uses standard JavaScript decodeURIComponent which treats + as a literal plus sign. If you need to decode form data with + as spaces, replace + with %20 before decoding.
Is this URL encoder tool free?
Yes, it is completely free to use with no registration, sign-up, or limits. You can use it as many times as you need for personal, educational, or commercial projects.