URL Encode and Decode
Easily URL encode plain text or decode URL encoded strings back to plain text. Free online developer tool.
Plain Text/URL Input:
Encoded URL Output:
Why URL Encode strings?
URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character set. Since URLs often contain characters outside the ASCII set, the URL has to be converted into a valid format. URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a `%` followed by two hexadecimal digits.
How to Use It
Paste text or a URL into the input field and click Encode (or Decode) to instantly convert it.
Example
The string "hello world" encodes to hello%20world, safe to use as a URL query parameter.
Common Use Cases
- Safely embedding user input as a query string parameter.
- Decoding a URL-encoded string copied from browser address bars or API responses.
FAQs
Do I need to encode an entire URL, or just parts of it?
Typically only encode individual query parameter values, not the full URL — encoding slashes and colons in the base URL would break it.