Free URL Encoder / Decoder Online
Percent-encode text for safe use in a URL or query string, or decode an already-encoded URL back to readable text.
How to encode or decode a URL
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1
Paste your text or URL
Enter the plain text or URL you want to encode in the left box.
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2
Click "Encode"
Special characters like spaces, &, and # are converted to their percent-encoded equivalents.
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3
Or paste an encoded value and click "Decode"
Paste a percent-encoded string into the right box to convert it back to readable text.
Example use cases
Building query string parameters
Encode a search term or redirect target so it's safely embedded in a query string.
Debugging a broken link
Decode a mangled-looking URL to see what value it actually contains.
Sharing links with special characters
Encode spaces, ampersands, and other reserved characters before pasting a link into an email or form.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
URL (percent) encoding replaces characters that aren't allowed in a URL — like spaces, &, and # — with a % followed by their hex code, so the value can be safely used inside a URL or query string.
When do I need to encode a URL?
Encode a value whenever it's placed inside a query string parameter, such as a search term, redirect target, or tracking value, so special characters don't break the URL's structure.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. Encoding and decoding both run locally in your browser using JavaScript's built-in encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent.
Why does decoding sometimes show "Invalid encoded input"?
This happens when the text contains a malformed percent-sequence, such as a stray % not followed by two valid hex digits.