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URL Encoder/Decoder

Encode or decode URLs and text for safe transmission in web applications. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format and vice versa.

Operation Mode

Choose whether to encode or decode your text

Text to Encode

Enter text or URL that needs to be URL-encoded

Encoded Result

URL-encoded text safe for web transmission

Examples

Common use cases for URL encoding and decoding

Basic text with space and exclamation
Original:
Hello World!
Encoded:
Hello%20World%21
Email address with @ symbol
Original:
user@example.com
Encoded:
user%40example.com
Query parameters with special characters
Original:
price=$100&currency=USD
Encoded:
price%3D%24100%26currency%3DUSD

Features

What makes our URL encoder/decoder powerful

Bidirectional

Both encoding and decoding with easy mode switching

Real-time Processing

Instant conversion as you type

Error Handling

Graceful handling of invalid encoded text

Copy & Paste

Easy copying of input and output

About URL Encoder/Decoder

The URL Encoder/Decoder is an essential web development tool that converts special characters in URLs and text into a percent-encoded format safe for transmission over the internet. URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits, ensuring that URLs remain valid and functional regardless of the characters they contain.

Key Features

  • Bidirectional Conversion: Easily switch between encoding and decoding modes
  • Real-time Processing: Instant conversion as you type with no delays
  • Error Handling: Graceful handling of invalid encoded text with clear error messages
  • Copy Functionality: One-click copying of both input and output text
  • Practical Examples: Built-in examples for common encoding scenarios

How to Use

  1. 1.Select "Encode" or "Decode" mode based on your needs
  2. 2.Paste or type your text or URL into the input field
  3. 3.View the converted result instantly in the output area
  4. 4.Click "Copy Result" to copy the encoded/decoded text
  5. 5.Use the swap button to quickly reverse the operation

Encoding Examples

Space character:" " → "%20"
@ symbol:"@" → "%40"
& symbol:"&" → "%26"
= symbol:"=" → "%3D"

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) so that it can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs can only be sent over the internet using the ASCII character set. Since URLs often contain characters outside this set, they must be converted into a valid ASCII format. URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code.

Common Use Cases

  • Query Parameters: Encode special characters in URL query strings (e.g., search terms, filters)
  • API Requests: Properly format data sent to REST APIs and web services
  • Form Submissions: Encode form data before sending via GET or POST requests
  • Email Links: Create mailto links with pre-filled subject lines and body text
  • Social Media Sharing: Encode URLs for sharing on social platforms
  • Debugging: Decode encoded URLs to understand what data is being transmitted

Characters That Need Encoding

The following characters are typically encoded in URLs:

Space → %20
! → %21
" → %22
# → %23
$ → %24
% → %25
& → %26
' → %27
( → %28
) → %29
* → %2A
+ → %2B
, → %2C
/ → %2F
: → %3A
; → %3B
= → %3D
? → %3F
@ → %40
[ → %5B

URL Encoding vs. Other Encoding Types

URL encoding is specifically designed for URLs and differs from other encoding methods. Unlike Base64 encoding (used for binary data), URL encoding preserves readability for simple ASCII text while only encoding special characters. It's also different from HTML entity encoding, which is used for displaying special characters in HTML documents. Each encoding method serves a specific purpose and should be used in the appropriate context.

Privacy & Security

All URL encoding and decoding operations are performed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device and is not sent to any server. This ensures complete privacy and security for all your conversions, making it safe to use with sensitive URLs and data.