What is URL encoding (percent-encoding)?

URL encoding, also called percent-encoding, replaces unsafe or reserved characters in a URL with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's byte value. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI encodes a full URL but leaves reserved characters like :, /, ?, #, and & intact since they have structural meaning. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except letters, digits, and a few safe symbols, making it ideal for encoding individual query parameter values.

Is this URL encoder/decoder free?

Yes, completely free with no signup, no account, and no limits. Everything runs in your browser so your data is never sent to any server.

When should I use URL encoding?

Use URL encoding whenever you include user-generated text in a URL, such as search queries, form data, API parameters, or any value that might contain spaces, ampersands, equals signs, or non-ASCII characters like accented letters or emoji.

Does this tool support non-ASCII and Unicode characters?

Yes. The tool fully supports UTF-8 encoding of Unicode characters including accented letters, CJK characters, emoji, and all other Unicode code points. Multi-byte characters are encoded as multiple percent-encoded bytes.

URL Encoder & Decoder

Encode and decode URLs, query strings, and special characters. Supports multiple encoding modes, URL parsing, and bulk processing.

100% Browser-Based & Private

Mode:

Encoded Output

Enter a URL above to see it parsed

Protocol

Hostname

Port

Path

Query

Fragment

Query Parameters

Enter one item per line. Each line will be encoded/decoded independently. 0 lines

Encoded Output

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About URL Encoding

URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces unsafe or reserved characters in URLs with a percent sign followed by two hex digits. For example, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and a slash becomes %2F. This ensures URLs are transmitted correctly across all systems.

This tool offers multiple encoding modes to match JavaScript's built-in functions and common use cases. Everything runs locally in your browser — your text is never sent to any server.

Component Mode

Equivalent to encodeURIComponent(). Encodes everything except letters, digits, and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ). Best for query parameter values.

Full URL Mode

Equivalent to encodeURI(). Preserves URL structure characters like : / ? # & while encoding unsafe characters.

URL Parser

Break any URL into its components — protocol, host, port, path, query parameters, and fragment — with a color-coded visual display.

Bulk Processing

Encode or decode many strings at once, one per line. Perfect for processing lists of URLs, parameters, or file paths.

How to Use This Tool

Choose Encode or Decode — Select whether you want to encode plain text into URL-safe format, or decode percent-encoded strings back to readable text.
Select an encoding mode — Pick from Component (encodeURIComponent), Full URL (encodeURI), Query Value, or Spaces Only depending on your needs.
Enter your input — Type or paste text into the input area. Results update live as you type.
Copy or download — Click Copy to grab the result, or Download to save it as a text file.
Use advanced features — Switch to the URL Parser tab to break down URLs into components, or the Bulk tab to process multiple strings at once.

Common Use Cases

How do I encode special characters in a URL? Paste your text in Encode mode with Component selected to convert spaces, ampersands, and other special characters to percent-encoded values.
How do I decode a URL with %20 and %3D? Switch to Decode mode, paste the encoded URL, and see the human-readable version instantly.
How do I break a URL into its parts? Use the URL Parser tab to see the protocol, host, port, path, query parameters, and fragment in a color-coded display.
How do I encode many URLs at once? Switch to the Bulk tab, paste one string per line, and encode or decode them all in a single operation.