URL Encoder & Decoder
Percent-encode any URL or text using encodeURIComponent or encodeURI, or decode any percent-encoded string back to readable text. 100% browser-based — nothing is sent to a server.
Encode URL / Text
Decode Percent-Encoded String
How to Use the URL Encoder & Decoder
The tool has two panels. The top panel encodes raw text or URLs into percent-encoded format. The bottom panel decodes percent-encoded strings back to their original form. Both panels update automatically as you type.
Encoding Mode: encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent
Use encodeURIComponent for individual query parameter values, OAuth tokens, and any component that will be placed inside a URL — it encodes everything except unreserved characters. Use encodeURI when you have a full URL and want to make it safe for use in an href, as it leaves structural characters like : / ? # intact.
URL Encoding and SEO
URL encoding has a direct impact on how search engines crawl, index, and consolidate your pages. Always encode non-ASCII characters in URL paths using UTF-8 percent-encoding. Never use literal spaces — use %20 in paths. Ensure canonical URLs use consistent encoding, and make sure all sitemap URLs are XML-escaped and properly percent-encoded.
Decoding Percent-Encoded URLs
The decode panel uses JavaScript's decodeURIComponent() to reverse percent-encoding. This is useful when you receive a URL from a log file, an API response, or a browser address bar and want to read it in plain text. If the input contains an incomplete sequence, the tool will show an error rather than silently producing incorrect output.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding (percent-encoding)?
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, converts characters that are not allowed in URLs into a safe format. Each unsafe character is replaced by a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing its UTF-8 byte value. For example, a space becomes %20, and an ampersand & becomes %26. This allows arbitrary data to be transmitted safely in URLs.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is designed to encode a complete URL. It leaves URL structural characters intact (: / ? # [ ] @ ! $ & ' ( ) * + , ; =) because they have meaning in a full URL. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except unreserved characters (A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ! ~ * ' ( )). Use encodeURIComponent for individual query parameter values and encodeURI for complete URLs.
When should I use URL encoding in SEO?
URL encoding matters for SEO when your URLs contain non-ASCII characters (like accented letters or CJK characters), spaces, or special characters. Search engines can index percent-encoded URLs, but human-readable URLs are preferred. Always encode query parameter values with encodeURIComponent. For canonical URLs, ensure consistent encoding — Google treats %20 and + as different in paths.
Does this tool send my data to a server?
No. All encoding and decoding is performed entirely in your browser using JavaScript's built-in encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions. Your input is never sent to any server, making this tool safe for encoding sensitive data such as API keys or passwords in URLs.
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