Quick answer

How to use the free URL Encoder/Decoder

To encode a URL for free, paste your URL or text, pick Full URL (encodeURI) or Component (encodeURIComponent) mode, and the encoded/decoded result appears instantly.

Encoding Mode

encodeURIComponent — encodes all special characters including :, /, ?, #, &, =. Use for query parameter values.

Direction
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Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces unsafe or reserved characters with a percent sign followed by two hex digits. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26.

What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI preserves characters that are part of URL structure — colons, slashes, question marks, hashes, and ampersands. encodeURIComponent encodes everything except unreserved characters (letters, digits, -, _, ., ~). Use encodeURIComponent for query parameter values and encodeURI for complete URLs.

When should I URL-encode text?

Anytime you put user input into a URL — query parameters, path segments, or fragment identifiers. Without encoding, special characters like & or = can break the URL structure or cause security issues.

Is my data sent to a server?

No. All encoding and decoding happens in your browser using native JavaScript APIs. Nothing is transmitted over the network.

Why does decoding sometimes fail?

Decoding fails when the input contains invalid percent-encoded sequences like %ZZ (Z is not a valid hex digit). Valid percent-encoding uses only digits 0-9 and letters A-F after the percent sign.

Free URL encoder & decoder

Percent-encode or decode URLs and query strings — with both encodeURI (full URL) and encodeURIComponent (parameter value) modes. Everything runs in your browser. Essential for developers handling URL parameters, form data and API calls.

How to encode or decode a URL

  • Type or paste your URL or text.
  • Choose Encode or Decode.
  • Pick the mode: Full URL (preserves special URL chars) or Component (encodes everything).
  • The result appears instantly — copy it or decode it back.

encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent

encodeURI is for complete URLs — it keeps ://, /, ?, &, and # intact so the URL still works. encodeURIComponent is for individual query parameter values — it encodes everything including / and & so the value doesn't break the URL structure.

When to URL-encode

  • Passing special characters in query strings (spaces, &, =, +).
  • Constructing dynamic URLs in JavaScript with fetch() or XMLHttpRequest.
  • Encoding form data for application/x-www-form-urlencoded POST requests.
  • Decoding garbled URLs from logs or email links.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the two encoding modes? The ToolCrix URL encoder's Full URL mode preserves structure characters like :// and ?; Component mode encodes everything for safe parameter values.

What does %20 mean in a URL? It's the percent-encoding for a space — paste any garbled URL into the ToolCrix decoder to turn %20, %3F and friends back into readable text.

Why did my URL get double-encoded? Encoding an already-encoded string turns % into %25. Run the ToolCrix decoder twice to unwind double encoding from redirects or email links.

Are the URLs I paste logged anywhere? No — the ToolCrix URL encoder/decoder runs entirely in your browser, so query strings containing tokens or session IDs are never transmitted.

GuideURL Encode & Decode: A Developer's Quick GuideRead the full guide →

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