🔗 URL Encoder & Decoder
Last updated:
Encode and decode URL strings. Percent-encoding for special characters.
The URL Encoder & Decoder converts text to and from percent-encoding using JavaScript's encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent — the aggressive variants that encode every special character including slashes, ampersands, question marks, and equals signs, making the output safe for individual query parameter values. Enter any text, click Encode to get the percent-encoded version, or click Decode to reverse an encoded string back to readable text. A 1MB input limit prevents browser slowdown with clear error messaging when exceeded.
📋 When to Use the URL Encoder & Decoder
You're building a query string with spaces, ampersands, and emoji and need to confirm what encodeURIComponent will produce before you ship the code. Encoding and decoding are pure client-side string operations; URLs you test are not transmitted.
⚙️ How the URL Encoder & Decoder Works
The URL Encoder & Decoder processes your input using conversion algorithms that run entirely in your browser. When you paste or upload content and select the output format, JavaScript parses the input, transforms it using format-specific logic (encoding, decoding, parsing, serializing), and produces the converted output. For file conversions, all processing uses browser-native APIs and JavaScript libraries loaded from CDN — your files are never uploaded to any server. The entire pipeline from input to output stays on your device.
How to Use the URL Encoder & Decoder
- Enter your text — Paste or type the URL or text string you want to encode/decode.
- Click Encode — Converts special characters to percent-encoding (e.g., space becomes %20). Safe for use in query strings.
- Click Decode — Reverses percent-encoding back to readable text (e.g., %20 becomes space).
- Copy the result — The output appears below. Select and copy it for use in your URLs or code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces unsafe characters with a % followed by two hex digits. For example, spaces become %20, and & becomes %26. This ensures URLs are valid and safely transmittable.
When should I encode vs decode?
Encode when you need to include special characters in a URL (spaces, symbols, non-ASCII text). Decode when you have a percent-encoded URL and need to read the original text.
Does this handle Unicode?
Yes! encodeURIComponent handles UTF-8 characters by encoding each byte. Non-ASCII characters like "café" become sequences like %C3%A9.
Difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
This tool uses encodeURIComponent, which encodes all special characters including / ? & =. This is safer for query parameter values. encodeURI is less aggressive and preserves URL structure characters.
Home › Developer & Data › URL Encoder & Decoder