URL Encode / Decode Tool — Free Online Encoder & Decoder

Free online URL encoding and decoding tool. Instantly convert text to URL-safe format or decode percent-encoded strings. Privacy-first client-side processing. All operations happen in your browser—no data uploaded or stored.

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a mechanism for converting characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. Special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters are converted into a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits.

Our URL Encode/Decode Tool allows you to quickly convert text to URL-safe format or decode already-encoded URLs. The tool operates entirely in your browser using JavaScript, ensuring complete privacy—your data never leaves your device.

Error: Invalid input. Please check your text.

Common Use Cases

Clean URLs

Encode special characters in URLs for proper link sharing.

API Development

Prepare query parameters for API requests and endpoints.

Database Queries

Safely encode data before including in URL strings.

Web Development

Handle URL parameters in web applications correctly.

SEO Optimization

Create SEO-friendly URLs with properly encoded characters.

Debugging

Decode encoded URLs to understand their actual content.

How to Use the URL Encoder/Decoder

📋 Step-by-Step Guide

  • Step 1: Choose Encode or Decode mode
  • Step 2: Type or paste your text in the input field
  • Step 3: Text is automatically converted in real-time
  • Step 4: Click "Copy Result" to copy the output
  • Step 5: Use "Clear All" to reset and start over

💡 Pro Tips

  • Use Encode mode to make text URL-safe
  • Use Decode mode to read encoded URLs
  • Tool handles spaces, special chars, and Unicode
  • Real-time conversion as you type
  • Switch between modes without losing your input

What Characters Get Encoded?

Common Encoded Characters

  • Space: %20 or +
  • ! (exclamation): %21
  • # (hash): %23
  • $ (dollar): %24
  • % (percent): %25
  • & (ampersand): %26
  • = (equals): %3D
  • ? (question): %3F

Characters That Don't Need Encoding

  • Letters: A-Z, a-z
  • Numbers: 0-9
  • Hyphen: -
  • Underscore: _
  • Period: .
  • Tilde: ~

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL encoding and why is it needed?

URL encoding converts special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs can only contain certain characters from the ASCII set. Characters outside this set, including spaces and special symbols, must be encoded using percent-encoding (e.g., space becomes %20).

Is my data uploaded to any server?

No, absolutely not. All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy and security.

What's the difference between URL encoding and HTML encoding?

URL encoding (percent-encoding) is used to encode characters in URLs, while HTML encoding is used to display special characters in HTML documents. URL encoding uses %20 for spaces, while HTML encoding uses  . This tool specifically handles URL encoding.

Can I decode already-encoded URLs?

Yes! Simply switch to Decode mode, paste your encoded URL or text, and the tool will instantly decode it to human-readable format. This is useful for understanding what encoded URLs actually contain.

Does the tool handle Unicode characters?

Yes! The tool correctly handles Unicode characters including emojis, accented letters, and characters from non-Latin alphabets. They are encoded using UTF-8 encoding standards.

What happens if I try to decode invalid text?

If you try to decode text that isn't properly URL-encoded, the tool will display an error message. This typically happens when the encoded text is malformed or corrupted.

Can I use this for encoding query parameters?

Yes! This tool is perfect for encoding query parameters in URLs. For example, if you need to pass name=John Doe in a URL, you can encode it to name=John%20Doe to ensure it works correctly.

Is there a character limit for encoding/decoding?

While there's no strict limit, very large texts (over 100,000 characters) may slow down your browser. For optimal performance, we recommend working with texts under 50,000 characters.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, the URL Encode/Decode Tool is completely free with no hidden fees, premium features, or usage limits. No registration or account required.

Technical Information

How URL Encoding Works

URL encoding uses the encodeURIComponent() JavaScript function, which converts characters to UTF-8 encoding and then represents each byte as a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits.

For example, the space character (ASCII 32) is encoded as %20, and the exclamation mark is encoded as %21.

Standards Compliance

This tool follows RFC 3986 standards for URL encoding. It uses UTF-8 character encoding, which is the standard for modern web applications.

The tool is compatible with all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera.

Encoding Examples

Example 1: Basic Text

Original: Hello World!

Encoded: Hello%20World%21

Example 2: Email Address

Original: user@example.com

Encoded: user%40example.com

Example 3: Special Characters

Original: 100% success!

Encoded: 100%25%20success%21

Example 4: Query String

Original: name=John&age=30

Encoded: name%3DJohn%26age%3D30

Related Text Tools

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Why Choose Our URL Encoder/Decoder?

100% Private

All processing local in your browser. No data transmitted or stored.

Real-Time Results

Instant encoding/decoding with no delays. See results as you type.

Mobile Friendly

Works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Standards Compliant

Follows RFC 3986 standards for URL encoding.

Free Forever

No registration, payments, or limits. Full functionality at no cost.

Accessible

Built following WCAG guidelines for everyone.

About Kasin TV

Kasin TV is dedicated to creating high-quality, free web tools that make everyday tasks easier. Our suite of text manipulation utilities, converters, and generators are designed with privacy, simplicity, and user experience in mind.

We believe in the open web and creating tools that respect your privacy. All our tools use client-side processing whenever possible, ensuring your data never leaves your device. No tracking, no data collection, no compromises.

Have suggestions for new tools or improvements? We'd love to hear from you. Get in touch with our team.