Free URL Encoder Decoder

Encode special characters to percent‑encoding format or decode percent‑encoded URLs back to readable text. No signup, no uploads, 100% private.

Enter your text or URL

Encode Text → URL-safe Decode % Encoded → Readable Auto Detect Smart Mode

Result

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Privacy First — No Server Uploads
All encoding and decoding happen locally in your browser. Your data never leaves your device. No signup, no tracking, no storage.

URL Encoder & Decoder: Percent-Encoding Made Simple

Our free URL encoder decoder helps you convert text into a safe URL-compatible format (percent-encoding) and decode percent-encoded strings back to readable text — all directly in your browser. Whether you're a web developer handling query strings, an API tester debugging parameters, or just need to encode special characters for links, this online URL encoding tool gives you instant, accurate results.

🔐 Encode Mode

Convert special characters (spaces, symbols, non-ASCII) into percent-encoded format safe for URLs.

🔓 Decode Mode

Convert percent-encoded strings (%20, %3F, etc.) back to their original readable characters.

🤖 Auto Detect

Smart mode automatically detects whether your input is encoded or plain text.

📋 One-Click Copy

Copy results instantly to your clipboard for use in code, API requests, or browsers.

🔒 100% Private

All processing happens locally in your browser — no uploads, no servers, no tracking.

⚡ No Signup

Use the tool instantly. No registration, no email, no payment.

How to Use This Free URL Encode/Decode Tool

1. Enter your text or percent-encoded string into the input field.
2. Choose your mode:
   • Encode — converts special characters (spaces, &, #, ?, etc.) into %-encoded format
   • Decode — converts percent-encoded sequences back to readable characters
   • Auto Detect — the tool intelligently decides if your input needs encoding or decoding
3. Click "Encode" or "Decode" buttons, or switch modes to see instant results.
4. Copy the result to your clipboard with one click.

Why URL Encoding (Percent-Encoding) Matters

URLs can only safely contain certain US-ASCII characters: letters, numbers, and a few symbols (-._~). Special characters like spaces, ampersands (&), question marks (?), hash symbols (#), and non-English characters must be encoded to be properly interpreted by browsers and servers. Our URL escape/unescape tool follows RFC 3986 standards, using encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions in JavaScript for accurate, browser-compatible results.

Common Use Cases for URL Encoding & Decoding

Web Development: Encode query parameters when building dynamic URLs or API calls.
API Testing: Debug encoded parameters in REST APIs or GraphQL queries.
Form Submissions: Ensure special characters in form data are transmitted correctly.
SEO & Marketing: Decode tracking URLs with UTM parameters to read original values.
Data Processing: Convert between percent-encoded and readable formats for logs or data pipelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between encodeURI() and encodeURIComponent()?

encodeURIComponent() encodes a complete URL component (like a query parameter value) — it escapes special characters including /, ?, &, #, and @. encodeURI() preserves characters with special meaning in a complete URL, such as / and ?. Our tool uses encodeURIComponent()/decodeURIComponent() for the most common use case: safe encoding of parameter values and text fragments.

Is this URL encoder decoder free?

Yes! Our free URL encoder decoder is 100% free with no limits. No signup, no watermarks, no hidden fees. Use it as many times as you need.

Do you store my encoded data?

No. All encoding and decoding operations are performed locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device. We don't upload, store, or have access to any of your inputs.

What percent-encoding standard does this tool use?

This tool follows RFC 3986 standards and uses JavaScript's built-in encodeURIComponent()/decodeURIComponent() functions. Spaces are encoded as %20, and special characters are converted to their UTF-8 byte representations.

Learn how to use this tool correctly by reading our step-by-step tutorial.

View Detailed Tutorial →