URL Encoder
Encoding & Encryption · Free Online Tool
Percent-encode and decode URLs.
Click "Encode" or "Decode" to transform your URL...Encode
Percent-encode special characters like spaces, ampersands, and query parameters for safe URL transport.
Decode
Convert percent-encoded URLs back to readable text, with clear feedback on malformed sequences.
RFC 3986 Safe
Uses encodeURIComponent — the standard for encoding URL components and query values.
How to Use URL Encoder
- 1Enter or paste your data into the input field.
- 2Select the desired encoding, hashing, or encryption options.
- 3Click the action button to process your data.
- 4Copy the result from the output field.
Features
- ✓100% free — no signup, no subscription, no ads
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser — data never leaves your device
- ✓Fast and lightweight — instant results
- ✓Cross-platform — works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
What is URL Encoder?
URL encoding (percent-encoding), defined by RFC 3986, converts characters that are not allowed in a URL into a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. Reserved characters (:, /, ?, #, [, ], @, !, $, &, ', (, ), *, +, ,, ;, =) and non-ASCII characters must be encoded when used outside their reserved purpose.
How does URL Encoder work?
Each character is encoded as UTF-8 bytes, then each byte that is not an unreserved character (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~) is converted to %XX form. Spaces are encoded as %20 in paths or + in query strings (application/x-www-form-urlencoded).
Common Use Cases
- ✓Query parameters — pass special characters in URL search strings
- ✓OAuth callbacks — encode redirect URIs
- ✓REST API requests — encode path and query parameters
- ✓International domains — encode non-ASCII characters (IDN)
URL Encoding vs Base64
URL encoding preserves URL structure (only encoding unsafe characters) while Base64 encodes the entire input. URL encoding is reversible in-place; Base64 changes the format entirely. Use URL encoding for web addresses; use Base64 for embedding binary data in text.
Security & Privacy
This tool runs entirely in your browser. URL encoding does NOT provide security — it only ensures characters are transport-safe. Never use it to hide sensitive data. For secure transmission use HTTPS; for data protection use encryption.
Technical Details
Standard: RFC 3986. Unreserved: A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ~. Reserved: : / ? # [ ] @ ! $ & ' ( ) * + , ; =. Percent-encoded: %XX (hex). Space: %20 (path) or + (query). Non-ASCII: UTF-8 bytes each encoded as %XX. JavaScript: encodeURIComponent() encodes all except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI preserves reserved URL characters (: / ? #) for full URLs. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ), for use on individual query parameters.
Why is space encoded as %20 or +?
%20 is the RFC 3986 standard for paths. + is the application/x-www-form-urlencoded convention for query strings in HTML forms. Both are valid but context-dependent.
How are Chinese characters encoded in URLs?
Chinese characters are encoded as UTF-8 bytes, then each byte becomes %XX. For example, '中' (U+4E2D) becomes %E4%B8%AD (3 bytes).
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