URL Encoder/Decoder

Encode and decode URLs for safe transmission

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How to Use This Tool

1

Select Encoding Mode

Choose 'Simple' for basic text, 'Full URL' for complete URLs with parsing, or 'Component' for specific URL parts.

2

Enter Your Input

Type or paste the text/URL you want to encode or decode. For Full URL mode, the tool will parse and display URL components.

3

Choose Component Type (Component Mode)

If using Component mode, select which part to encode: All, Path only, Query parameters, or Hash fragment.

4

Process Your Data

Click 'Encode' to convert special characters to URL-safe format, or 'Decode' to restore original text.

5

Edit Query Parameters (Full URL Mode)

In Full URL mode, you can interactively add, edit, or remove query parameters from parsed URLs.

Pro Tips

  • •URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with '%' followed by two hexadecimal digits
  • •Spaces are encoded as '%20' in standard encoding or '+' in query strings
  • •Full URL mode preserves the URL structure while encoding only necessary parts
  • •Component mode is useful when you need to encode just a portion of a URL
  • •Use the 'Swap' button to quickly reverse encode/decode operations
  • •The tool shows encoding statistics including length changes

URL Encoding and Decoding Standards

URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that ensures special characters are transmitted correctly across the internet. This process converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet by replacing unsafe ASCII characters with a '%' followed by two hexadecimal digits. URL encoding is essential for web development, API integration, and ensuring data integrity when passing parameters through HTTP requests, form submissions, and REST APIs.

Key Features

Multiple encoding modes: simple text, full URL parsing, and component-specific encoding

Interactive URL parser showing protocol, host, path, query, and hash components

Real-time query parameter editor for building and modifying URLs

Support for both standard percent encoding and plus-sign encoding for spaces

Automatic detection and preservation of already encoded characters

Component-specific encoding for paths, query strings, and hash fragments

Encoding statistics showing character count and size changes

Bidirectional encoding/decoding with one-click swap functionality

Common Use Cases

Encoding form data for HTTP POST requests and GET query parameters in web applications

Preparing URLs with special characters for use in HTML href attributes and API endpoints

Encoding user-generated content for safe inclusion in URLs without breaking syntax

Building dynamic URLs with properly encoded query parameters for search engines and analytics

Debugging URL encoding issues in web applications and understanding malformed URL errors

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use URL encoding?

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URL encoding is necessary whenever you include special characters (spaces, &, =, ?, #, etc.) in URLs. This includes user input in query parameters, file paths with spaces, non-ASCII characters in internationalized domain names, and any data that might contain reserved URL characters. Always encode user input before including it in URLs.

What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

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encodeURI() encodes a complete URI and preserves characters that are valid in URLs (like :, /, ?, #). encodeURIComponent() encodes everything except letters, digits, and a few special characters, making it safe for encoding individual query parameter values. Use encodeURI for full URLs and encodeURIComponent for parameter values.

Why are spaces sometimes encoded as %20 and sometimes as +?

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This depends on the context. In URL paths, spaces are encoded as %20. In query strings (after the ?), spaces can be encoded as either %20 or + (plus sign). The + encoding is a legacy from HTML form submissions. Modern applications typically use %20 everywhere for consistency, but both are valid in query strings.

Which characters don't need URL encoding?

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Alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) and the special characters - _ . ~ don't need encoding and are considered 'unreserved characters'. All other characters, including spaces and common symbols like @ # $ & = + : / ? should be encoded when used in parameter values.

How do I handle international characters in URLs?

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International characters (Unicode) should be encoded using UTF-8 first, then percent-encoded. For domain names, use Punycode encoding (IDN). For paths and parameters, convert to UTF-8 bytes then percent-encode each byte. This ensures proper display and transmission of characters from any language.