URL Encoder / Decoder

Encode and decode URLs instantly. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format and back. Supports both full URL and component encoding. Pure client-side, no data sent to servers.

Input characters: 0 Output characters: 0

Quick Examples

About URL Encoder / Decoder

URL encoding converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. Special characters like spaces, quotes, and non-ASCII characters are replaced with percent-encoded sequences (e.g., %20 for space). This tool supports both full URL encoding (encodeURI) which preserves URL structure, and component encoding (encodeURIComponent) which encodes all special characters including slashes and colons.

Features

How to Use

  1. Select the mode: "Encode" to convert text to URL-encoded format, or "Decode" to convert URL-encoded text back to plain text
  2. Choose the encoding type: "Full URL" preserves URL structure characters (: / ? #), while "URL Component" encodes all special characters
  3. Paste your text or URL into the input field
  4. Click the "Process" button to encode or decode your input instantly
  5. Use the "Copy" button to copy the result to your clipboard, or "Swap" to exchange input and output
  6. Try the Quick Examples buttons below the output to see common encoding/decoding scenarios in action

Common Use Cases

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Locator (URI). It replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI encodes a complete URL but preserves characters that are valid in a URL structure (like : / ? #). encodeURIComponent encodes all special characters, making it suitable for query parameter values. Use encodeURI for full URLs and encodeURIComponent for URL components.

When should I use URL encoding?

You should use URL encoding when your data contains special characters that need to be included in a URL, such as spaces, non-ASCII characters, or reserved characters like & = ? /. This ensures the URL is valid and can be properly parsed by browsers and servers.

Is this tool safe to use with sensitive data?

Yes, all processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, making it completely safe for sensitive information like API keys, tokens, or private URLs.

Can I encode Unicode and non-ASCII characters?

Yes, this tool fully supports Unicode and all non-ASCII characters including emoji, Chinese characters, Arabic script, Cyrillic, and more. These characters are encoded using UTF-8 percent-encoding, which is the standard for modern web applications.

Why does my encoded URL look different after encoding?

URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with percent-encoded sequences. For example, spaces become %20, & becomes %26, and non-ASCII characters become multi-byte sequences like %E4%B8%AD for Chinese characters. This is normal and expected — the encoded URL is still valid and functional.

Can I decode a partially encoded URL?

Yes, the decoder will process any percent-encoded sequences it finds and leave other characters unchanged. However, if the URL contains malformed encoding (like an incomplete % sequence), the tool will show an error. Make sure your input is valid URL-encoded text.

What is the maximum input size?

There is no artificial limit imposed by the tool. The practical limit depends on your browser's memory and JavaScript string handling capabilities. Most modern browsers can handle inputs of several megabytes without issues. For extremely large datasets, consider processing in chunks.

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