URL Encode & Decode
Percent-encode text for URLs or decode %-encoded links back to readable text.
About this url encode & decode
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, ampersands, accented letters and many symbols must be percent-encoded — written as % followed by a hexadecimal code. This tool encodes text so it's safe to put in a link or query string, and decodes encoded URLs back into readable text.
Use "encode a value" for individual query parameters (it encodes &, = and / too), and "encode a full URL" when you want to keep the URL structure intact.
How to use the URL Encode & Decode
- Choose encode a value, encode a full URL, or decode.
- Paste your text or URL.
- Copy the result.
Percent-encoding explained
Each unsafe character is converted to its UTF-8 bytes, and each byte is written as % plus two hex digits. A space becomes %20, & becomes %26 and é becomes %C3%A9. HTML forms traditionally encode spaces as + instead of %20.
Worked example
The value "free tools & calculators" encodes to free%20tools%20%26%20calculators, so the & isn't mistaken for a parameter separator.
Tips for better results
- Encode each query parameter value separately, then join them with & and =.
Frequently asked questions
What does %20 mean in a URL?
It's an encoded space character.
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI keeps characters like / ? & = that structure a URL; encodeURIComponent encodes them, which is right for individual values.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Results are calculated in your browser.