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URL Encoder & Decoder

Encode text for a URL component or decode percent-encoded text back to readable characters.

Tool workspace

Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. Do not use any online service for secrets unless its privacy and security practices meet your needs.

About this tool

About URL Encoder & Decoder

The URL Encoder and Decoder converts text into a form that is safe to use inside a web address and turns encoded addresses back into readable text. Characters such as spaces, ampersands and non-English letters are replaced with percent-encoded values.

This is useful when building query strings, debugging redirects, tracking links with UTM parameters or reading a long encoded link you received. Encoding the wrong part of a URL can break it, so encode individual values rather than the full address when unsure.

Web addresses can only contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, symbols and non-English letters have to be percent-encoded so a browser or server reads them correctly. The URL Encoder and Decoder converts text both ways.

Encoding is most important in query parameters, where characters such as &, = and # have special meaning and would otherwise break the link or change its meaning.

Step by step

How to Use URL Encoder & Decoder

  1. 1
    Paste the text or URLEnter the value you want to encode or the encoded string you want to decode.
  2. 2
    Choose encode or decodePress the button that matches the direction you need.
  3. 3
    Inspect the resultConfirm that spaces and special characters were converted as expected.
  4. 4
    Copy and use itCopy the output into your link, query string or code.
Real-world use

Where URL Encoder & Decoder helps most

Query parametersEncode a value so special characters do not break the link.
Non-English textMake addresses with local-language words work reliably.
Reading encoded linksDecode a long address to see its actual values.
Campaign linksPrepare tracking parameters that contain spaces or symbols.
Get better results

Practical tips for URL Encoder & Decoder

  • Encode individual values, not the entire address including https://.
  • Decode a link before editing it, then encode the edited value again.
  • Do not encode twice, which turns % into %25.
  • Test the final link in a browser.
  • Keep parameter names simple and lowercase.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Encoding the whole URL and breaking the protocol and slashes.
  • Double-encoding a value that was already encoded.
  • Leaving & or # inside a value.
Benefits

Why Use URL Encoder & Decoder

Safe query stringsPrevent special characters from breaking your links.
Readable decodingTurn long percent-encoded text back into something you can read.
Handy for tracking linksPrepare parameter values for campaigns and redirects.
Local conversionEverything runs in the browser with no upload.

Good to know. This tool runs in your browser, so the text you enter is processed on your own device. Even so, avoid pasting real passwords or secrets into any online tool. See the Privacy Policy for details.

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More guides to read next

GUIDEHow to Create Clean, SEO-Friendly URL Slugs for Articles GUIDEUTM Parameters Explained: Track Campaigns Without Breaking Your URLs
Questions & answers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL encoding?
It replaces characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in a URL with a percent sign followed by a hexadecimal code.
Why do spaces become %20?
A literal space is not valid in a URL, so it is represented as %20 or sometimes as a plus sign in query strings.
Should I encode the entire URL?
Usually you should encode only the individual values, such as query parameters, rather than the whole address including slashes and colons.
Why does decoding show strange characters?
The original text may have used a different character encoding, or the string may have been encoded more than once.
Can I encode non-English text?
Yes. Non-English letters are encoded using UTF-8 and can be decoded back to the original text.
Is my input stored?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and is not sent to a server.