URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode special characters in URLs or decode percent-encoded strings back to readable text.
Free Online URL Encoder and Decoder
The Toolts URL Encoder converts special characters in URLs to their percent-encoded equivalents, and the decoder reverses the process. URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26.
Why URL Encoding Matters
URLs can only contain a limited set of ASCII characters. Characters like spaces, accented letters, and symbols must be percent-encoded to be transmitted safely in HTTP requests. Without encoding, URLs with special characters may break or be misinterpreted by servers and browsers. This is especially important for query parameters that may contain user input.
encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent
In JavaScript, encodeURI preserves characters that are valid in a complete URL (like :, /, ?, &), while encodeURIComponent encodes everything except letters, digits, and a few safe characters. Use encodeURI for complete URLs and encodeURIComponent for individual query parameter values. This tool supports both modes via the checkbox option.