URL Encoder & Decoder | UTF-8 Percent Encoding
Encode reserved characters in URLs to safe percent-encoded (%XX) form, or decode them back to readable text. Fully UTF-8 compliant and privacy-safe—everything runs locally in your browser.
How to Use This Tool
- 1
Select Encode or Decode mode.
- 2
Enter your URL, text, or query string in the input box.
- 3
Choose encoding type: Component (encodeURIComponent) for parts, or Standard (encodeURI) for full URLs.
- 4
See instant results in Live mode or click the button in Manual mode.
- 5
Copy or swap input/output as needed.
Use Cases & Examples
Query String & Parameter Encoding
Safely encode text for query strings to avoid breaking URLs due to spaces or special characters.
API Request Construction
Build REST API URLs with properly encoded path and query parameters.
URL Debugging & Analysis
Inspect and decode percent-encoded URLs from logs, redirects, or emails.
International Data Handling
Prepare encoded URLs containing Unicode or emoji data for sharing or embedding.
Understanding URL Percent Encoding
Percent encoding replaces unsafe URL characters with %HH hex values, as defined in RFC 3986.
encodeURIComponent encodes all but the most basic characters, suitable for query parameters and path segments.
encodeURI keeps structural URL characters like : / ? # intact for full-URL encoding.
UTF-8 encoding ensures support for any global language or emoji.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What’s the difference between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI?
A. encodeURIComponent encodes nearly all special characters for URL parts like query parameters; encodeURI skips reserved ones like : / ? # for full URLs.
Q.Why are spaces sometimes %20 and sometimes '+'?
A. %20 is the official standard per RFC 3986. Older web forms sometimes use '+'. This tool encodes spaces as %20 and decodes both %20 and + back to spaces.
Q.Can it handle international text and emojis?
A. Yes—UTF-8 encoding supports all Unicode characters, including emojis, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.
Q.Is URL encoding a form of encryption?
A. No—URL encoding only ensures safe transmission in URLs. It does not provide encryption or data security.
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