URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode URLs for safe transmission and proper formatting
Converter
Web
URL
Component: Encodes all special characters (recommended for query parameters)
URI: Preserves URL structure characters like :, /, ?, #
About URL Encoding
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. Special characters are replaced with % followed by two hexadecimal digits.
Common Encodings
- Space → %20
- ! → %21
- @ → %40
- & → %26
- = → %3D
When to Use
- Query parameters in URLs
- Form data submission
- API requests with special characters
- Email addresses in URLs
Privacy & Security
All encoding/decoding happens in your browser. No data is sent to our servers, ensuring your URLs and data stay private.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does URL encoding work?
URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes "%20".
When should I use URL encoding?
Use URL encoding for query parameters, form data, or any part of a URL that may contain special characters. Always encode user input in URLs.
Is URL encoding case sensitive?
Yes, hexadecimal digits in percent-encoding are case-insensitive, but the rest of the URL may be case-sensitive depending on the server.
Can URLs contain characters from other languages?
Yes, but non-ASCII characters are encoded using percent-encoding or Punycode for domain names.
Should I encode URL parameters?
Yes, always encode URL parameters to avoid issues with special characters and to ensure correct transmission.
Does URL encoding prevent XSS?
URL encoding helps prevent some injection attacks, but it is not a substitute for proper input validation and output encoding.
Does the browser automatically decode URLs?
Browsers automatically decode URLs when displaying them, but you should manually decode them in your code as needed.