URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode URLs, query strings and components.
About this tool
Turn special characters into safe URL-encoded form and back. Encode whole URLs or just components (e.g. query values), with a live preview of the difference.
How it works
The tool uses the standard encodeURI and encodeURIComponent semantics with a custom decoder that tolerates malformed percent sequences. A side-by-side diff view highlights exactly which characters changed.
How to use URL Encoder / Decoder
- 1Paste a URL or component into the input.
- 2Choose to encode or decode.
- 3Pick "component" for values like query parameters, or "full URL" to preserve slashes and colons.
- 4Copy the result or see the encoding difference highlighted.
Examples
"hello world" encodes to "hello%20world" as a component.
A full URL keeps its :// while encoding spaces and "&" inside query values.
Decoding "%3Fq%3Dtailwind" gives "?q=tailwind".
Pro tips
- Use "component" encoding for values going into a query string — it encodes & and = too.
- Use "full URL" only when the input is a complete URL you want to keep readable.
- If encoding and decoding both change your text, you have mismatched modes — double check which one applies.
Frequently asked questions
What is percent-encoding?
A way of representing characters not allowed in URLs. Each unsafe character becomes a % sign followed by its two hex digits, e.g. space becomes %20.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI leaves URL structure characters (like : and /) intact; encodeURIComponent encodes almost everything, making it safe for query values. Both are offered here.
Is decoding reversible?
Yes for correctly encoded input. A decode of an encoded string always returns the original. The tool shows both sides so you can verify.
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