What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent encoding) replaces special characters with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal value. For example, a space becomes %20. This ensures URLs are valid and can be transmitted over the internet.

When should I URL-encode text?

URL-encode text when including it in query parameters, form data, or any part of a URL that may contain special characters like spaces, ampersands, or non-ASCII characters.

What encoding standard does this use?

This tool uses JavaScript's encodeURIComponent() for encoding and decodeURIComponent() for decoding, which follow the RFC 3986 standard for URI encoding.

Can I encode entire URLs?

This tool encodes individual components (like query parameter values). If you need to encode a full URL, encode each component separately — encoding the entire URL would break the protocol and path separators.

Yes. All encoding and decoding happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

URL Encode & Decode Online — Free

Encode and decode URLs online for free. Convert special characters to percent-encoded format instantly.

Input

Output

How to URL Encode & Decode

Enter your text or encoded URL
Paste the text you want to URL-encode, or a percent-encoded string you want to decode, into the input area.
Click Encode or Decode
Click 'Encode' to convert special characters to percent-encoded format, or 'Decode' to convert them back to readable text.
Copy the result
Click 'Copy Output' to copy the result to your clipboard, ready to use in URLs, API calls, or code.

Why Use PDFFlare URL Encoder?

Standards Compliant

Uses RFC 3986 compliant encoding via encodeURIComponent, ensuring correct handling of all special characters.

Instant Results

Encode or decode in milliseconds. No waiting, no server round-trips — everything happens locally.

Error Detection

Invalid percent-encoded sequences are caught and reported, helping you identify and fix malformed URLs.

100% Private

Your data never leaves your browser. Safe for encoding sensitive API keys, tokens, and credentials.

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