URL Encoder/Decoder

Percent-encode text for URLs or decode encoded URL components.


    

  

  

    
    
    
    
  

  


    

    

      
ToolsSoup's URL Encoder/Decoder is a free online tool that percent-encodes text so it is safe to drop into a URL, and decodes encoded components back to readable text — instantly and in your browser. It is fully Unicode-aware, so accented characters and emoji round-trip perfectly with no uploads, no sign-up, and nothing ever leaving your device.

      

        
What is URL encoding?

        
URL encoding, also called percent-encoding, replaces characters that are unsafe or reserved in a URL with a percent sign followed by their hexadecimal byte value — for example a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. It lets you safely place arbitrary text, such as search terms or query-parameter values, inside a web address without breaking its structure. Non-ASCII characters are first converted to UTF-8 bytes and then percent-encoded.

        
      

      

        
How to encode and decode a URL online

        
Converting text with ToolsSoup takes just a few seconds:

        
  1. Type or paste your text or encoded component into the input box.
  2. Click Encode to percent-encode it, or Decode to turn an encoded component back into plain text.
  3. Copy the result with one click, or read the error message if the encoded input is malformed.

      

      

        
encodeURIComponent vs encodeURI

        
This tool uses component encoding (encodeURIComponent), which escapes reserved characters like &, =, ?, / and # so they are treated as literal data rather than URL syntax. Use component encoding for individual query-parameter values or path segments. Whole-URL encoding (encodeURI) leaves those structural characters intact and is only meant for tidying up a complete address you have already assembled.

        
      

      

        
Why use this URL encoder?

        
  • 100% free with no ads, sign-up, or usage limits.
  • Runs entirely in your browser — your data is never uploaded to a server.
  • Full Unicode (UTF-8) support, so accents and emoji encode and decode correctly.
  • Encode and decode from a single page with one click.
  • Works offline once the page has loaded.

      

      

        
Frequently asked questions

        

          
Is this URL encoder free?

          
Yes. Every tool on ToolsSoup is completely free to use, with no account, sign-up, or hidden limits.

        

        

          
Is my data safe?

          
Absolutely. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript, so your text is never sent to or stored on any server.

        

        

          
When do I need to URL-encode something?

          
Encode any value you put into a URL that may contain spaces, punctuation, or non-English characters — such as search queries, query-parameter values, or form data. This keeps reserved characters from being misread as part of the URL's structure.

        

        

          
Why does a space become %20?

          
Spaces are not allowed in URLs, so they are percent-encoded as %20. In the query string of some form submissions a space may instead appear as a plus sign (+), but %20 is always a safe, standards-compliant choice.

        

        

          
Why am I getting an 'Invalid URL encoding' error when decoding?

          
Decoding only works on valid percent-encoded text. The error usually means a stray % sign or an incomplete escape sequence such as %2 or %ZZ. Check that every % is followed by two hexadecimal digits and try again.