When do you need URL encoding?
URLs are only allowed to contain a limited set of characters. Anything else — spaces, accented letters, and reserved symbols like &,?, /, = and # — has to be “percent-encoded” into a % code so it doesn’t break the address. You need this whenever you put text into a query string, build a redirect URL, or pass a value to an API — otherwise a stray & or space can split your parameter in two.
How to encode or decode a URL
- Choose Encode (text → percent-encoded) or Decode (encoded → readable text).
- Paste your text or URL.
- Copy the result with one click.
A quick example
The text name=John & Co becomes name%3DJohn%20%26%20Cowhen encoded — the space turns into %20 and the ampersand into%26, so it can sit safely inside a query string.
Frequently asked questions
Encode vs encodeURIComponent? This tool uses component-level encoding, which escapes reserved characters — the right choice for individual query-string values.
Why is a space sometimes “+” and sometimes “%20”? In query strings spaces are often written as +, but %20 is the safe, universal form this tool uses.
Is it private? Yes — everything runs in your browser.