URL encoder and decoder
Percent-encode a link or read an encoded one.
Encodes slashes and question marks too. Use it for one value in a query.
Percent encoding replaces characters that cannot appear in an address with a form like %20. It shows up in links, in headers and when debugging an API. Everything is worked out in your browser.
- Runs right in your browser
- Free, no sign-up
More about URL encoder and decoder
Why addresses get encoded
Only a limited set of characters may appear in a URL. A space, an accented letter and characters like an ampersand or a question mark either mean something of their own or cannot be there at all. Percent encoding replaces them with a percent sign and two digits: a space becomes %20 and “ř” becomes %C5%99, because it takes two bytes in UTF-8.
A whole address, or one value
The difference matters. A value inside a URL encodes slashes, question marks and ampersands as well, which is exactly what you need when putting someone else's address or a search term into a parameter. A whole address leaves the structure of the link alone and only fixes what would break it.
Pick the wrong one and you either get a link that falls apart at the first ampersand, or a dead address with an encoded https at the front.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a space sometimes a plus and sometimes %20?
The plus comes from form submissions, while %20 belongs in the address itself. Most servers understand both, but in the path of a URL a plus stays a plus, not a space.
Is encoding the same as encryption?
It is not. The address stays readable, only written differently. It hides nothing from anyone looking at the link.
Do you send the addresses anywhere?
No, both the conversion and the breakdown run in your browser. Internal links are safe to paste in.