URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode strings into percent-encoded URL parameters or decode URL-encoded text back to plain readable strings. Runs 100% in your browser.
About URL Encoding (Percent-Encoding)
URL encoding (defined in RFC 3986) converts unprintable or special characters in Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) into a format that can be safely transmitted over the Internet using standard ASCII characters. Non-ASCII or reserved characters (like ?, &, =, #, and spaces) are converted into percent signs followed by two hexadecimal digits (e.g. spaces become %20 or +).
Our online URL Encoder & Decoder uses standard JavaScript encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions to instantly percent-encode query strings, path segments, and redirect parameters client-side.
Real-World Use Cases
🔗 Query Parameter Formatting
Encode user input, search terms, or complex JSON strings into URL query strings without breaking HTTP GET request syntax.
🔑 OAuth Redirect URI Sanitization
Safely pass callback URLs containing special characters inside OAuth 2.0 authorization parameters.
🛠️ Webhook Payload Debugging
Decode encoded URL strings found in webhook request logs to inspect submitted form fields and metadata.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is URL encoding necessary?
URLs can only be sent over the internet using the ASCII character set. Special characters like ?, &, /, and spaces have functional meanings in URLs and must be escaped to prevent syntax errors.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI() preserves full URI structure characters (like : / ? #), while encodeURIComponent() encodes reserved characters so they can be safely passed inside query string key-value pairs.
Is this URL converter private?
Yes. All encoding and decoding operations run locally in your web browser. No URL strings or parameters are stored or sent to remote servers.