URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode or decode URLs and query parameters online. Supports both encodeURIComponent (for parameters) and encodeURI (for full URLs).
How to Use the URL Encoder/Decoder
- To Encode: Paste your text or URL into the input field and select your encoding mode. Use encodeURIComponent for query parameter values or encodeURI for full URLs.
- To Decode: Switch to the Decode tab, paste your percent-encoded string, and click Decode to see the original text.
- Click Copy to copy the result to your clipboard instantly.
About URL Encoding
URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). URLs can only contain a limited set of characters from the ASCII character set. Characters outside this set, or characters that have special meaning in URLs (like &, =, ?, and #), must be encoded using a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII value.
There are two common encoding functions in JavaScript: encodeURIComponent encodes a string for use as a URI component (such as a query parameter value), encoding almost all special characters. encodeURI encodes a complete URI but preserves characters that are valid in URLs such as colons, slashes, question marks, and hash symbols. Choosing the right function depends on whether you are encoding a full URL or just a parameter value within one.
Frequently Asked Questions
URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces special characters in a URL with a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20. This ensures URLs are valid and transmit correctly across the internet.
encodeURI encodes a complete URL but preserves characters that are valid in URLs (like :, /, ?, #, &). encodeURIComponent encodes everything except letters, digits, and a few special characters, making it suitable for encoding individual query parameter values.
You should URL encode whenever you include user-supplied data in a URL, especially in query string parameters. This prevents special characters from breaking the URL structure and ensures proper data transmission.