About the URL Encoder / Decoder
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, ampersands, question marks, non-English letters and many symbols must be percent-encoded (for example, a space becomes %20) to be transmitted safely. The URL Encoder / Decoder handles this conversion for you in real time.
Use Component mode (encodeURIComponent) for individual query parameter values, where characters like &, = and / must be encoded. Use Full URL mode (encodeURI) to encode a complete address while keeping its structure intact. When decoding, plus signs are treated as spaces as in HTML form submissions. For any full URL, the tool also shows a breakdown of the protocol, host, path and each query parameter, which is handy for debugging tracking links and API calls.
Examples: encoding a search value and a full link
Encoding a single value (Component mode). The text café & tea becomes:
caf%C3%A9%20%26%20teaThe space becomes %20, the ampersand becomes %26 so it is not mistaken for the start of a new parameter, and é becomes two bytes, %C3%A9.
Encoding a whole address (Full URL mode).
https://example.com/search?q=red shoes&size=42becomes https://example.com/search?q=red%20shoes&size=42. The space is encoded, but ?, = and & stay, because they give the link its structure.
Common problems this solves
- Broken tracking links: a campaign name with spaces or an ampersand cuts the link short. Encode each value first.
- Unreadable links: decode a long link full of
%2Fand%3Dto see where it actually goes before you click it. - Double encoding: if you see
%2520, a space was encoded twice. Decode once and encode again correctly.
How to use the URL Encoder / Decoder
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- Select Component mode for parameter values or Full URL mode for whole addresses.
- Paste your text or URL.
- Copy the result and review the URL breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI leaves characters that have special meaning in URLs (like /, ?, & and #) untouched, while encodeURIComponent encodes them. Use the component version for parameter values.
Why is a space sometimes + and sometimes %20?
HTML forms encode spaces as + in query strings, while standard percent-encoding uses %20. This decoder accepts both.
Can I decode non-English URLs?
Yes. UTF-8 sequences such as Urdu or Chinese characters are decoded back to readable text.