When do I need to URL encode?

You need URL encoding when: URLs contain spaces or special characters Passing data through query parameters Building APIs that accept URL parameters Working with form data in web applications Storing URLs in databases or configuration files

What characters need to be URL encoded?

Characters that need encoding include spaces, ampersands (&), question marks (?), hash symbols (#), plus signs (+), percent signs (%), and many others. Generally, any character that has special meaning in URLs or isn't part of the unreserved character set should be encoded.

What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI is designed for encoding complete URLs and doesn't encode characters like :, /, ?, and # that have special meaning in URLs. encodeURIComponent encodes all special characters except unreserved ones (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~) and is used for encoding individual URL components like query parameters.

Is URL encoding reversible?

Yes, URL encoding is completely reversible. Any percent-encoded URL can be decoded back to its original form using URL decoding. This tool uses the standard decodeURIComponent function to safely restore the original characters.

URL Encode/Decode

Q: What is URL encoding?

URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a method to encode special characters in URLs so they can be safely transmitted over the internet. It replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code.

Encode URLs to make them safe for transmission or decode percent-encoded URLs back to their readable form. Perfect for handling special characters in URLs, query parameters, and API endpoints.

URL to Encode

Enter a URL with special characters to encode for safe transmission

Example URLs:

Encoded URL

Your URL with special characters percent-encoded

Understanding URL Encoding

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (percent encoding) converts special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. It replaces unsafe characters with a % followed by two hexadecimal digits.

Common Use Cases

Encoding query parameters with special characters
Building API endpoints with dynamic data
Handling form submissions with special characters
Creating safe URLs for email and messaging
Working with international characters in URLs

Character Examples

Original:

Space: " "

Ampersand: &

Question: ?

Hash: #

Encoded:

%20

%26

%3F

%23

URL Structure

https://

example.com

/path/to/resource

?param1=value1&param2=value2

#fragment

Different parts of a URL may require different encoding strategies.

Best Practices

Always encode user input before adding to URLs
Use appropriate encoding for different URL components
Be careful with double-encoding issues
Test URLs with international characters

JavaScript Examples

// Encode a URL component
const encoded = encodeURIComponent('hello world');
// Result: 'hello%20world'

// Decode a URL component  
const decoded = decodeURIComponent('hello%20world');
// Result: 'hello world'

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about URL encoding and decoding.