URL Encode & Decode
Encode special characters in URLs or decode percent-encoded strings instantly. Everything runs in your browser — your data never leaves your device.
Use Encode Component for query parameter values, Encode Full URL to preserve URL structure, or Decode to convert percent-encoded strings back to readable text. Supports UTF-8 and all Unicode characters.
InputHow It Works
This URL encoder/decoder processes your data entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server. Enter text or a URL, click the appropriate button, and see the result instantly.
Encode Component
Uses JavaScript's encodeURIComponent() to encode all special characters, including :, /, ?, &, =, #, and @. This is the correct choice when encoding values for URL query parameters, form data, or any string that will be embedded inside a URL.
Encode Full URL
Uses JavaScript's encodeURI() to encode a complete URL while preserving its structure. Characters like :, /, ?, #, &, and = are NOT encoded because they have special meaning in URLs. Only characters that are not valid in URLs (spaces, non-ASCII, etc.) are encoded.
Decode
Converts percent-encoded strings back to readable text. Works with both encodeURIComponent and encodeURI encoded strings. Handles UTF-8 multi-byte sequences correctly, including Cyrillic, Chinese, emoji, and all Unicode characters.
Privacy First
All processing runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device — there are no server requests, no cookies, and no tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is URL encoding?
A: URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces special characters with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal value. For example, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26. This ensures URLs are valid and can be safely transmitted over the internet.
Q: Is my data stored on the server?
A: No. All encoding and decoding happens directly in your browser using JavaScript. Your data is never sent to any server. Everything stays completely private on your device.
Q: What is the difference between Encode Component and Encode Full URL?
A: Encode Component encodes all special characters including :, /, ?, &, =. Use it for query parameter values. Encode Full URL preserves URL structure characters and only encodes characters that are not valid in URLs.
Q: Does it support UTF-8 characters?
A: Yes. The encoder properly handles UTF-8 characters including Cyrillic, Chinese, Arabic, emoji and all Unicode text.
Q: When should I use URL encoding?
A: Use URL encoding when building query strings, passing data in URLs, creating API requests, encoding form data, or when you need to include special characters in a URL.
Q: What characters get encoded?
A: In Component mode: all characters except A-Z, a-z, 0-9, and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) are encoded. In Full URL mode: characters like :, /, ?, #, @, &, = are preserved.
Q: Can I decode a full URL with query parameters?
A: Yes. Paste any URL-encoded string and click Decode. The tool will convert all percent-encoded characters back to their original form.
Q: Is this tool free?
A: Yes, completely free with no registration required. Use it as many times as you need.