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URL Encoder / Decoder

Encode or decode URLs and query strings instantly. Convert special characters to percent-encoding and back for safe URL transmission and debugging.

  • 100% free
  • No signup
  • Runs in your browser
Common uses: url encoder · url decoder · percent encoding · encode url online · url decode online

Used 37.4K times today

How to Use URL Encoder / Decoder

  1. 1

    Paste your URL or text

    Enter a raw URL with special characters or a percent-encoded string into the input field.

  2. 2

    Select Encode or Decode

    Choose "Encode" to convert unsafe characters to %XX format, or "Decode" to restore the original string.

  3. 3

    Copy the output

    Copy the encoded URL for use in HTTP requests, or the decoded URL for human-readable inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What characters need URL encoding?
Characters outside the unreserved set (letters, digits, -, _, ., ~) must be percent-encoded. This includes spaces (%20), ampersands (%26), equals signs (%3D), and most punctuation.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL and preserves structural characters like /, ?, and #. encodeURIComponent encodes a single parameter value and also encodes those structural characters. This tool offers both modes.
Why does my URL have %20 instead of spaces?
Spaces are not valid in URLs, so they are replaced with %20 (or + in form submissions). This tool decodes %20 back to spaces for easy reading.

Embed This Tool

Add this tool to your website for free. Just copy and paste the code below:

<iframe src="https://utilko.com/embed/url-encoder-decoder/" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" title="URL Encoder / Decoder"></iframe>

About URL Encoder / Decoder

The URL Encoder / Decoder converts between human-readable URLs and their percent-encoded equivalents required for safe HTTP transmission. URL encoding is critical when building query parameters, form data, or API request URLs that contain special characters such as spaces, ampersands, or Unicode text.

Developers frequently use this tool to debug malformed URLs, encode dynamic query parameters in web applications, or decode URLs found in logs and analytics dashboards. The tool runs entirely in the browser, so your URLs — which often contain sensitive query parameters — are never shared with any server.

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