URL Encoder / Decoder

What Is This URL Encoder / Decoder Tool?

This free tool converts text into URL-encoded (percent-encoded) format, and decodes URL-encoded strings back into readable text instantly, in your browser. URL encoding replaces unsafe or reserved characters like spaces, &, ?, and #  with a % followed by a two-digit hex code, so that data can be safely included in a URL without breaking its structure or being misread by a server.

Paste your text or URL, choose “Encode” or “Decode,” and get your result immediately. There’s no sign-up required, and everything runs client-side, so nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.

How to Use the URL Encoder / Decoder

1. Paste your text or URL into the input box.
2. Choose Encode or Decode. Select “Encode” if you’re starting with plain text or a raw query parameter, or “Decode” if you have an already-encoded URL and want to see its readable form.
3. Copy the result with one click and use it directly in your code, browser, or API request.

If you paste a malformed encoded string into the decoder, the tool will flag it rather than returning an incorrect result.

Why URL Encoding Matters

URLs can only safely contain a limited set of characters letters, digits, and a handful of symbols like -, _, ., and ~. Everything else spaces, accented characters, symbols like & or = used for other purposes, and non-Latin scripts needs to be encoded to avoid breaking the URL or being misinterpreted:

• Query parameters with special characters. If a search term, email address, or user input contains spaces or symbols, it must be encoded before being appended to a URL as a query parameter, or the URL will break or truncate.
• Reserved characters used for their literal meaning. Characters like &, =, and ? have specific structural roles in URLs separating parameters, assigning values, starting a query string. If your actual data contains one of these characters, it must be encoded so it isn’t mistaken for part of the URL’s structure.
• International and non-Latin text. Text in languages that use accented characters or non-Latin scripts must be percent-encoded, typically as UTF-8 bytes, to be included in a URL reliably.
• API requests and webhooks. Many APIs require query parameters and form data to be URL-encoded before being sent, especially when passing user-generated content.

This is a different job from building a clean URL path for a page. If what you’re actually trying to do is turn a title into a readable slug like my-blog-postrather than encode a query parameter, the Slug Generator is the right tool for that instead.

Common URL Encoding Mistakes

• Double-encoding. Encoding an already-encoded string turns %20 into %2520, which will decode incorrectly. Always check whether a string is already encoded before encoding it again.
• Encoding an entire URL instead of just the parameter values. Encoding the full URL, including https:// and /, breaks it, since those structural characters need to stay as-is. Only the parameter values should typically be encoded.
• Forgetting the + and space distinction. In query strings, a + is sometimes used to represent a space, while %20 is the more universally correct encoding mixing them up can cause inconsistent results across different systems.

Who Uses This Tool

• Developers building query strings or debugging URLs that contain unexpected characters.
• QA and testers decoding URLs found in logs or browser network tabs to see their actual, readable content.
• Marketers encoding UTM parameters or tracking URLs that include special characters. Once a tracking link is live, the Redirect Checker can confirm it actually lands where it’s supposed to.
• SEO professionals decoding messy URLs during a site audit to understand what a parameter actually represents.
• Anyone building or debugging API requests that require encoded query parameters.

FAQ

What’s the difference between URL encoding and Base64 encoding? URL encoding (percent-encoding) is specifically designed to make text safe for inclusion in a URL, while Base64 encoding is a general-purpose way to represent binary or text data using a fixed character set. They use different rules and aren’t interchangeable.

Why does my URL contain %20 or other percent signs? These are encoded representations of characters that aren’t URL-safe on their own %20, for example, represents a space. Use this tool’s decoder to see the original, readable text.

Is this tool free to use? Yes, completely free, with no sign-up or usage limits.

Is my data uploaded or stored when I use this tool? No. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser nothing you paste is sent to a server or saved.

Should I encode the entire URL or just parts of it? Typically only the parameter values, like a search term or user input, should be encoded encoding the full URL, including https:// and slashes, will break its structure.

Can I use this to decode a URL I don’t recognize? Yes, pasting an encoded URL into the decoder will reveal its plain-text form, which is useful for understanding tracking links or unfamiliar query parameters before clicking them.

Looking for something else? Check the Base64 Encoder / Decoder, the Slug Generator, the Redirect Checker, or browse the full Free SEO Tools collection.