Last updated: October 2026
URL encoder decoder online free — encode & decode in one click
Short answer: paste your URL or text above, choose Encode or Decode, and click the button — special characters are percent-encoded (or reversed) instantly. No signup, nothing leaves your browser.
Full-URL mode vs component mode
Full-URL mode (unchecked box) only encodes characters that are illegal in a URL — spaces become %20 but : / ? & are left alone, so the link structure survives. Component mode (checked, the default) encodes everything including / ? & = — that's what you need when embedding a value inside a query string, e.g. a redirect URL as a parameter. If you've ever had a nested URL break a link, you needed component mode.
Common encodings cheat sheet
Space → %20 · ! → %21 · " → %22 · # → %23 · $ → %24 · & → %26 · ' → %27 · ( → %28 · ) → %29 · + → %2B · , → %2C · / → %2F · : → %3A · ; → %3B · = → %3D · ? → %3F · @ → %40
Frequently asked questions
How do I encode a URL online?
Paste your URL or text into the box above, make sure Encode is selected, and click the button. Special characters become percent-encoded sequences — for example, a space becomes %20.
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
Full-URL mode (encodeURI) leaves URL structure characters like : / ? & intact and only encodes spaces and unsafe characters. Component mode (encodeURIComponent) encodes everything, including / ? & =, which is what you want when embedding a value inside a query string.
How do I decode a percent-encoded URL?
Switch the mode to Decode, paste the encoded URL, and click the button. %20 becomes a space again, %3A becomes a colon, and so on.
Why does my URL have %20 and %3A in it?
URLs can only contain certain characters. Everything else is percent-encoded: %20 is a space, %3A is a colon, %2F is a slash. Browsers do this automatically, and this tool lets you do it (or reverse it) manually.
Is my data private?
Completely. Encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, stored or tracked.