What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces special characters with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal value. For example, a space becomes %20. This ensures URLs are valid and can be transmitted over the internet.

When should I URL-encode text?

URL-encode text when including it in query parameters, form data, or any part of a URL that may contain special characters like spaces, ampersands, or non-ASCII characters.

What encoding standard does this use?

This tool uses JavaScript's encodeURIComponent() for encoding and decodeURIComponent() for decoding, which follow the RFC 3986 standard for URI encoding.

Can I encode entire URLs?

This tool encodes individual components (like query parameter values). If you need to encode a full URL, encode each component separately — encoding the entire URL would break the protocol and path separators.

Yes. All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

What characters need URL encoding?

Characters that have special meaning in URLs must be encoded, including spaces, ampersands (&), equals signs (=), question marks (?), hash symbols (#), and all non-ASCII characters such as accented letters and emoji.

Is there a size limit for URL encoding?

There is no hard limit imposed by this tool. The encoding runs in your browser, so it can handle very large strings. In practice, most web servers limit URLs to around 2,000–8,000 characters, so keep that in mind for query parameters.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI preserves URL structure characters like ://?#, making it suitable for encoding a full URL. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except unreserved characters, making it the right choice for encoding individual query parameter values. This tool uses encodeURIComponent.

Can I encode entire URLs with this tool?

Yes, you can paste a full URL and encode it. However, keep in mind that encodeURIComponent will encode slashes and colons too. For encoding just query parameter values, paste only the value portion.

URL Encode & Decode Online — Free

Encode and decode URLs online for free. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format instantly.

Encode special characters into percent-encoded format or decode percent-encoded strings back to readable text. URL encoding is essential whenever you build query parameters, construct API calls, or submit web forms that include characters like spaces, ampersands, or non-ASCII text.

Everything runs in your browser — your data is never sent to a server. Paste your input, click Encode or Decode, and copy the result. Working with Base64 instead? Try the Base64 Encode & Decode tool.

Input

Output

How to URL Encode & Decode

Enter your text or encoded URL
Paste the text you want to URL-encode, or a percent-encoded string you want to decode, into the input area.
Click Encode or Decode
Click 'Encode' to convert special characters to percent-encoded format, or 'Decode' to convert them back to readable text.
Copy the result
Click 'Copy Output' to copy the result to your clipboard, ready to use in URLs, API calls, or code.

Common Use Cases

Fix Broken URLs
URLs with spaces, accented characters, or special symbols break in browsers and email clients. Encode them to make every link work reliably.
Encode API Query Parameters
Safely encode values before adding them to API request URLs so that special characters like & and = don't corrupt the query string.
Decode Tracking URLs
Marketing and analytics platforms wrap links in layers of encoding. Decode them to reveal the actual destination URL.
URL-Safe Data Transmission
Prepare user-generated strings for safe transmission in URL paths, query strings, and form submissions without data loss.

Why Use PDFFlare URL Encoder?

Standards Compliant

Uses RFC 3986 compliant encoding via encodeURIComponent, ensuring correct handling of all special characters.

Instant Results

Encode or decode in milliseconds. No waiting, no server round-trips — everything happens locally.

Error Detection

Invalid percent-encoded sequences are caught and reported, helping you identify and fix malformed URLs.

100% Private

Your data never leaves your browser. Safe for encoding sensitive API keys, tokens, and credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions About URL Encoding

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How to URL Encode & Decode

Enter your text or encoded URL

Click Encode or Decode

Copy the result