URL encoder / decoder
Encode and decode URLs (percent-encoding).
- Instant
- Free
- Private (processed locally)
- No sign-up
Encoding a URL, why and how
When an address contains a space, an accent or a reserved character, it must be encoded to remain valid. Percent-encoding replaces those characters with a code starting with %. This tool encodes and decodes in one click.
How to use it
-
Paste your content
A URL/parameter to encode, or an encoded string to decode.
-
Click Encode or Decode
The result appears in the bottom area.
-
Copy
Reuse the value in your link or code.
Common characters and their encoding
| Character | Encoded |
|---|---|
| space | %20 |
| & | %26 |
| = | %3D |
| ? | %3F |
| / | %2F |
| : | %3A |
| # | %23 |
| + | %2B |
| @ | %40 |
| é | %C3%A9 |
Accented characters are encoded in UTF-8 (several bytes).
Use cases
- Links with search parameters containing spaces.
- APIs: passing values in a query string.
- Debugging: reading an encoded URL found in a log.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
A URL can only contain a limited set of characters. Encoding (percent-encoding) replaces disallowed characters with a % followed by their hexadecimal code. For example, a space becomes %20.
Why encode a URL?
To reliably pass parameters containing spaces, accents or symbols (&, =, ?, /…), especially in links, forms and API calls.
What exactly does the tool do?
It applies encodeURIComponent (to encode a parameter) and decodeURIComponent (to decode), with full UTF-8 handling — accents and emojis included.
What is the difference between %20 and the + sign?
In a URL, a space is encoded as %20. In form data (application/x-www-form-urlencoded), it may be written as +. The tool converts + to a space when decoding.
Is my data sent?
No. Encoding and decoding happen in your browser.