URL Encoder / Decoder
Percent-encode or decode a URL component or a whole URI.
Mode
Scope
Text
Output
The result appears here.
More in this kitAll of Developer Utilities
About URL Encoder / Decoder
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, accents and symbols must be percent-encoded before they are safe to send. This tool encodes text for use in a URL and decodes percent-encoded strings back into readable text.
How to use it
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- Pick a scope: Component for a single value such as a query parameter, or Full URI for a whole address.
- Paste your text or URL into the input panel.
- Copy the result.
Good to know
- Component mode also encodes characters like slash, question mark, ampersand and equals, so a value cannot accidentally break the structure of the URL it sits in.
- Full URI mode leaves those structural characters alone and only encodes what cannot appear in an address at all.
- Decoding a string that contains a stray percent sign not followed by two hex digits will report an error.
Common questions
Which scope should I use for a query string value?
Use Component. It encodes reserved characters such as ampersands and equals signs so the value stays intact when placed after a key in a query string.
Why do spaces become %20?
A space is not allowed in a URL, so it is replaced by its percent-encoded byte value, %20. Some form encodings use a plus sign instead, but %20 is valid everywhere.