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URL Encoder

Encode and decode URLs

About URL Encoder

URL Encoder makes ordinary text safe to put in a web address, and turns encoded addresses back into readable words. Spaces become %20, an accented letter becomes its UTF-8 bytes (é is %C3%A9), and in the default mode symbols such as & or ? are escaped so they do not cut a link short. Paste a long link full of %20 and %C3 codes and Decode shows it in plain text. You can encode a single word or phrase, a complete address, or use a strict variant that also escapes ! ' ( ) *. The conversion uses functions built into your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

Example

A song title encoded with the default mode and with the strict mode, then a form-style query decoded with the + box checked:

Text

Rock 'n' Roll (live)!

To decode: Rock+%27n%27+Roll

Result

Default mode: Rock%20'n'%20Roll%20(live)!
Strict RFC 3986: Rock%20%27n%27%20Roll%20%28live%29%21

Decoded: Rock 'n' Roll

How to encode or decode text for a link

  1. 1Type or paste your text, or an address full of %XX codes.
  2. 2To encode, keep "A value (query parameter, path segment)" for a word or phrase, or switch to "A whole URL (keeps : / ? # & = + ; , @ $)" for a full address.
  3. 3Click "Encode" or "Decode"; if a + in your text is a real plus sign, uncheck the + box first.
  4. 4Click "Copy" to paste the result somewhere else, or "Download" for a text file named encoded.txt.

Formats and limits

What gets encoded
Spaces, accents, emoji, and symbols; letters, digits, and - _ . ~ always stay as they are
Modes
A value, A whole URL, and Strict RFC 3986, which also escapes ! ' ( ) *
Decoding
%XX codes are read as UTF-8; + becomes a space unless you uncheck the box
Errors
An incomplete code, such as %E9 alone, shows Invalid URL encoding

Common uses

Building a search link to share
Encode café near me in the default mode to get caf%C3%A9%20near%20me, then paste it after ?q= in a search address and send that link to a friend.
Checking where an email link leads
Newsletters wrap the real address in a long tracking link full of %3A and %2F codes; Decode shows the destination in plain text before you decide to open it.
Prefilling an email subject on a website
A contact button with a mailto: link needs its subject encoded: Order question & refund becomes Order%20question%20%26%20refund, so the & does not cut the subject short.

Which tool to use

  • URL Encoder: the developer-tools page runs the same three encodings and the same decoding, but explains them for programmers: which JavaScript function each mode matches, how form data writes + for a space, and when strict RFC 3986 output is required for signed requests.
  • URL Parser: to split a full address into protocol, host, path, and each query parameter decoded on its own line, instead of decoding the whole text at once.

Where your text is processed

This page converts your text with functions built into the browser and does not send it anywhere, so private links and search terms stay on your device. If the clipboard refuses a copy or a decode fails, we receive a short error message, the tool's name, and your browser's name and version, never your text, to help fix bugs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode a URL full of %20 and %C3 codes?

Paste it and click "Decode". Each %XX group is read as a UTF-8 byte, so %C3%A9 becomes é and %20 becomes a space. If the address contains a real plus sign, uncheck the + box first, or it turns into a space.

Why does é become %C3%A9 and not %E9?

Web addresses use UTF-8, where é takes two bytes, C3 and A9. %E9 is the older Latin-1 code; on its own it is not valid UTF-8, so Decode answers Invalid URL encoding instead of guessing.

Which characters are left as they are?

In the default mode, letters, digits, and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) stay unchanged and everything else is escaped. Strict RFC 3986 escapes ! ' ( ) * as well, and A whole URL also keeps the separators of an address, such as : / ? # & =.

Can I encode a whole web address?

Yes, with "A whole URL (keeps : / ? # & = + ; , @ $)". It keeps the separators and any %XX codes already there, and encodes spaces and accents, so the link still opens. In the default mode the slashes and the colon would be escaped too.

Why does my link show %20 instead of spaces?

A web address cannot contain a space, so browsers and apps write it as %20 when they copy a link. Decode turns each %20 back into a space so you can read the words.

Can I read the real address inside a long redirect link?

Yes. Paste the whole link and click "Decode": the address it forwards to, usually after url= or u=, becomes readable, with https:// instead of https%3A%2F%2F.

Does it work with emoji and non-Latin alphabets?

Yes. Each character is written as its UTF-8 bytes: 😀 becomes %F0%9F%98%80 and the Arabic letter ب becomes %D8%A8, and Decode turns them back.

Do I need to encode a link before sharing it?

Usually not, since browsers and messaging apps do it for you. Encode when you build a link by hand, such as a search address with your words after ?q=, or a mailto: link whose subject contains spaces or an &.

Tips and tricks

  • ✓A link copied from an email that looks broken can be decoded first, to read the address it really points to.
  • ✓Encode search words separately, then put them after ?q= in the address.

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