Free URL Encoder & Decoder Online
Encode and decode URL components online. Free bidirectional URL encoder supporting percent encoding.
Key Features
Everything you need in one free tool
Completely free with no registration, and no hidden charges.
browser-side workflows is done locally in your browser. Your data stays private.
Instant results using browser-native APIs and optimized algorithms.
Key Takeaways
- This tool runs entirely in your browser using the native encodeURIComponent and decodeURIComponent functions, so your text is converted instantly and is never sent to a server.
- It performs component-level percent encoding, which means reserved characters like &, =, ?, /, and : are all escaped (for example, space becomes %20 and / becomes %2F) - ideal for a single query string value, not a whole URL.
- Use Encode to make a value such as a search term, email, or redirect link safe inside a query string, and use Decode to read a long percent-heavy link back into its human-readable original.
- Decoding fails on malformed input like a lone % or an incomplete code such as %2, so make sure every % is followed by two valid hexadecimal digits; note that spaces are %20 here, not +.
How to Encode and Decode a URL
Paste your text into the correct box
To encode, type or paste raw text into the "Plain URL / Text" box. To decode, paste an already percent-encoded string into the "URL Encoded" box. The tool reads from whichever box matches the action you choose, so put your input on the matching side.
Click Encode or Decode
Press Encode to convert reserved and unsafe characters into percent-encoded sequences using the browser native encodeURIComponent function. Press Decode to reverse the process with decodeURIComponent. The conversion runs instantly in your browser and the status line confirms success or reports an error.
Copy or clear the result
Use Copy Result to place the output on your clipboard for pasting into a query string, link, or config file. Use Clear to empty both boxes and the status message before starting a new conversion. Nothing is sent anywhere, so you can repeat as often as you need.
Encoding vs Decoding: What Each Direction Does
This tool performs full component-level percent encoding with encodeURIComponent and the matching decodeURIComponent. The table below shows how common characters are treated so you know what to expect before you convert.
| Character | Encoded Output | Why It Changes |
|---|---|---|
| space | %20 | Spaces are not allowed in a URL and must be escaped. |
| & (ampersand) | %26 | Reserved as a query parameter separator, so it is escaped inside a value. |
| = (equals) | %3D | Reserved as the key and value delimiter in query strings. |
| / (slash) | %2F | Encoded because component encoding escapes path separators too. |
| ? (question mark) | %3F | Reserved as the start of the query string. |
| letters, digits, - _ . ~ | unchanged | These are unreserved characters and are always left as is. |
When to Use This Tool
Building query string values
Encode a single parameter value such as a search term, email, or redirect URL before placing it after a key in a query string. Component encoding escapes &, =, and ? so your value cannot break the surrounding parameters.
Reading a long encoded link
Paste a percent-heavy URL from an email, redirect chain, or log into the encoded box and click Decode to see the human-readable original. This makes it easy to inspect where a tracking or redirect link actually points.
Handling non-ASCII text
Encode names, accents, or other Unicode characters so they travel safely as UTF-8 percent sequences. The tool uses the browser standard, so a single accented letter may expand into two or more percent groups.
Quick checks during development
Verify how a value will look in a request, fix a malformed link, or confirm a round trip by encoding then decoding. The instant browser-side conversion fits naturally into debugging and copy-paste workflows.
Common Problems and Fixes
Decoding shows an error message
decodeURIComponent fails when it meets a malformed sequence such as a lone percent sign or an incomplete code like %2 instead of %20. Check that every % is followed by two valid hexadecimal digits, remove stray % characters, then decode again.
My slashes and colons got encoded
This tool uses component encoding, which escapes / and : as %2F and %3A on purpose. That is correct for a single parameter value. If you wanted to keep a full URL structure intact, encode only the individual value rather than the whole address.
Plus signs are not becoming spaces
Percent encoding represents a space as %20, not as +. The + style belongs to form submission encoding. If your input used +, decode it, replace each + with a space manually, then re-encode if needed.
Copy button did nothing
Copying uses the browser clipboard API, which requires a secure context. Make sure you are on the https version of the page and that you produced an output first, then click Copy Result again or select the text and copy it manually.
About This Tool
Encode and decode URL components using percent encoding. Bidirectional conversion in your browser. This free tool works entirely in your browser for maximum privacy and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tool completely free?
Yes. The tool is 100% free to use with no registration, no subscription and no usage limits.
You can use it as many times as you need for personal or commercial projects without any cost.
We believe developer and productivity tools should be accessible to everyone without paywalls.
Is my data secure?
Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. No data is transmitted to our servers — your files never leave your device.
You can safely use this tool with sensitive or confidential information without privacy concerns.
We do not log or store any input you provide to this tool.
Does this work on mobile devices?
Yes. The tool is fully responsive and works in any modern mobile browser on iOS and Android.
The interface adapts to smaller screens while maintaining full functionality.
All buttons, inputs and outputs are accessible on touch devices.
What browsers are supported?
The tool works in all modern browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari and Microsoft Edge.
We recommend keeping your browser up to date to ensure the best experience and access to the latest browser APIs.
Internet Explorer is not supported.
Do I need to install any software?
No. The tool runs entirely in your web browser with no downloads, plugins or installations required.
This makes it accessible from any device without modifying your system.
Simply open the page and start using the tool immediately.
How accurate are the results?
The tool uses browser-native APIs and standard algorithms to deliver accurate results consistent with industry expectations.
Where applicable, we implement well-tested open standards such as the Web Crypto API for hash generation and the native JSON parser for JSON tools.
If you encounter any result that seems incorrect, please try clearing and re-entering your input.
Can I use this tool in commercial projects?
Yes. The tool is free for personal and commercial use with no attribution required.
You can use generated outputs such as passwords, UUIDs and text in any project without restrictions.
The tool itself may not be resold or redistributed but using its outputs is completely unrestricted.
Where can I get help if I have a problem?
For questions or issues you can reach us through our contact page.
We monitor feedback and release regular updates to improve accuracy and add features.
Community suggestions are welcome and have shaped many of the options available in our tools.
Sources and References
Format and tool details on this page are based on the official specifications and documentation below.
- RFC 3986: Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)- IETF
- encodeURIComponent()- MDN Web Docs