URL Encoder/Decoder
encodeURIComponent: Use for query parameter values. Encodes all special characters.
How to Use the URL Encoder/Decoder
- Choose whether to Encode or Decode
- For encoding, select the encoding type (encodeURIComponent is recommended for most cases)
- Paste or type your text in the input field
- Click the convert button or text converts automatically
- Copy the result using the "Copy Result" button
- Use "Swap" to quickly switch input and output
Common Use Cases
- API Development - Encode parameters for REST API calls
- Query Strings - Safely pass values in URL parameters
- Special Characters - Handle spaces, &, =, and other reserved characters
- International Text - Encode non-ASCII characters for URLs
- Debugging - Decode URLs to see the original values
- Web Scraping - Decode encoded URLs from web pages
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted in URLs. Characters like spaces, &, =, and ? have special meanings in URLs and must be encoded.
When should I URL encode?
URL encode when passing data as URL parameters, when URLs contain special characters or non-ASCII characters, or when building query strings programmatically.
What characters need to be encoded?
Reserved characters like ?, &, =, /, #, and special characters like spaces, quotes, and non-ASCII characters need encoding. Letters, numbers, and - _ . ~ are safe and don't need encoding.
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL but preserves characters like :, /, ?, and &. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except letters, numbers, and - _ . ~, making it suitable for query parameter values.
Can I decode any encoded URL?
Yes, URL decoding reverses the encoding process. Paste any percent-encoded string and our tool will decode it back to the original characters.