Safely Encode Web Addresses
URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the standard ASCII character-set. If a URL contains spaces, foreign characters, or special symbols, those characters must be translated. Our URL Encoder & Decoder instantly translates problematic text into safe, percent-encoded strings.
When to Use URL Encoding
Failing to encode URLs properly is a common source of broken links and API errors. You must encode text when:
- Passing Query Parameters: If you are passing a search term like "black shoes" via a GET request (
?query=black shoes), the space must be encoded to%20. - Handling Special Characters: Characters like
?,&, and=have functional meaning in a URL. If they are part of the actual data, they must be encoded to prevent the browser from misinterpreting them. - Internationalization: Any non-English characters (like Cyrillic, Kanji, or Emojis) must be converted into their UTF-8 percent-encoded equivalents to transmit safely over HTTP.
How to Use This Tool
- Upload or Input Data: Select your file or paste your data directly into the tool interface. Everything remains on your device.
- Configure & Process: Adjust any optional settings if necessary. The tool will process your data instantly inside your browser.
- Download Result: Preview the output and click the download or copy button to save your final results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
`encodeURI` leaves reserved URL characters (like `?`, `/`, `&`) untouched, making it safe for full URLs. `encodeURIComponent` aggressively encodes everything, making it perfect for the data values *inside* the query string.
Why are spaces turned into %20?
In URL percent-encoding, the hexadecimal value for the ASCII space character is 20. Hence, it is represented as `%20`.
Can it decode URLs too?
Yes, the tool is bidirectional. Paste a heavily encoded string, and it will instantly decode it back into readable text.