How to use this tool

1. Fill in the inputs.
2. Read the result.
3. Copy or download as needed.

About the URL Encoder & Decoder

The URL Encoder & Decoder converts text and URL components between their normal, human-readable form and their "percent-encoded" form, which is the format required whenever special characters (spaces, ampersands, question marks, and more) need to appear safely inside a URL. Paste any text or URL, choose Encode or Decode, and get an instant, accurate result.

This tool is essential for developers building query strings, marketers constructing tracking links, and anyone who needs to safely pass a value like a search term, an email address, or a piece of text through a URL parameter without it breaking the link.

Encoding uses the standard `encodeURIComponent` method, which converts any character that is not a letter, digit, or one of a small set of safe symbols into its percent-encoded equivalent — for example, a space becomes `%20` and an ampersand becomes `%26`. This is the correct method for encoding individual URL components like query parameter values, as opposed to encoding an entire URL at once (which uses different, less aggressive rules to preserve characters like `/` and `:` that are structurally meaningful in a full URL).

Decoding reverses the process using `decodeURIComponent`, converting percent-encoded sequences back into their original characters. If the input contains a malformed percent-encoded sequence (for instance, a stray `%` not followed by two valid hexadecimal digits), the tool will show an error rather than silently producing incorrect output.

Common use cases

• Building or debugging query string parameters for a URL, such as search terms or tracking values.
• Safely embedding special characters (spaces, symbols, non-Latin text) inside a link.
• Decoding a long, encoded URL you received to see its actual, readable content before clicking it.
• Preparing values to be passed safely between web applications via URL parameters.
• Troubleshooting a broken link that contains unencoded special characters.

Tips and best practices

• Encode individual query parameter values, not the entire URL at once — encoding a full URL will also escape characters like `/` and `:` that need to stay as-is for the URL to remain valid.
• If a decode operation fails, double-check that every `%` in your text is followed by exactly two valid hexadecimal characters.
• Encoded URLs are longer than their original form; this is expected and does not indicate an error.
• When building URLs programmatically, most programming languages have a built-in equivalent function (like `encodeURIComponent` in JavaScript or `urlencode` in PHP) that follows the same standard.

Frequently asked questions