URL Encoder / Decoder

Safely encode special characters or decode URL-escaped strings instantly. 100% secure, offline execution.

Plain Text
URL Encoded Text

Fast and Secure URL Encoding

When passing data through web requests, special characters can break your URLs. Spaces, ampersands, equals signs, and non-ASCII characters must be properly "escaped" to ensure web servers and browsers route requests correctly.

The Toolforge URL Encoder / Decoder is a bi-directional utility designed for developers who need to quickly sanitize strings for query parameters, API endpoints, and form submissions. Built with real-time reactive updates, the tool instantly translates plain text into valid URI components and vice versa.

Common URL Encodings

Here are a few common characters and their URL-encoded equivalents that this tool handles automatically:

  • Space becomes %20
  • Ampersand (&) becomes %26
  • Equals (=) becomes %3D
  • Question Mark (?) becomes %3F
  • Slash (/) becomes %2F

How to Use

  1. 1

    Encode

    To encode, paste your standard text into the 'Plain Text' editor. The URL Encoded text will instantly generate below.

  2. 2

    Decode

    To decode, paste your escaped string (e.g., %20) into the 'URL Encoded Text' editor. The plain text will instantly generate above.

  3. 3

    Copy Results

    Use the 'Copy' buttons to instantly grab the result to your clipboard.

  4. 4

    Start Over

    Click the 'Clear' icon to reset both fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tool completely local?+

Yes. The encoding and decoding happens entirely inside your browser using standard JavaScript functions. No data is sent over the network.

What does URL Encoding do?+

URL encoding converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the Internet. URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character-set. Characters outside this set, or characters with special meaning in URLs (like spaces, &, =, ?), must be converted into a valid ASCII format, usually a '%' followed by a two-digit hexadecimal equivalent.

Does this encode entire URLs or just components?+

This tool uses encodeURIComponent() under the hood, which means it encodes special characters that are valid in full URLs (like /, ?, &, =). It is designed for encoding query parameters and URL paths.