Have you ever ever tried copying a long url where it ended up as strange characters such as %20 or %3D? These weird looking characters are in fact encoded characters. Confusing, right? However there is no need to fret. We have simplified it. Hereby, we introduce the free URL Encoder Decoder tool that is a powerful, yet quick and light utility which helps encode or decode a URL text in no time. No login, no ads, no fluff.
URL Encoder & Decoder
Now, let us take a tour in the process of using this tool, its reasons and necessity, as well as the steps of using it.
Is URL Encoding?
Percent encoding (also known as percent encoding, percent encoding, percentage-encoding or URL encoding) is a way of encoding special characters in a URL so that they can be transmitted over the Internet.
For example:
- A space becomes %20
- An ampersand (&) becomes %26
- A question mark (?) becomes %3F
These characters could break a URL or make it unreadable for servers. That’s why encoding is important when sending data in URLs especially in search queries, form submissions, or APIs.
What Is URL Decoding?
URL decoding is the opposite. It takes an encoded URL and converts it back into its original format. So if you see something like: https://example.com/search?query=hello%20world%26fun
Decoding turns it into: https://example.com/search?query=hello world&fun
This makes it much easier to read and understand.
Features of Our URL Encoder Decoder Tool
Here’s what makes our tool stand out:
- Instant Encode & Decode: Real-time processing with one click
- 100% Free & Secure: No signup, no data stored
- Mobile-Friendly UI: Fully responsive and works on any device
- Simple & Clean Design: Focused on speed and ease of use
- Clear Button: Wipe both fields instantly for quick testing
Whether you’re a developer, digital marketer, or just curious about a long URL, this tool is built to make your life easier.
How to Use the Free URL Encoder Decoder Tool
Using this tool is simple just follow these steps:
Step 1: Enter Your Text or URL: Paste your full URL or any text with special characters into the top textarea.
Step 2: Choose What You Want to Do
- Click “Encode” if you want to convert plain text into a URL-safe format.
- Click “Decode” if you want to make an encoded URL human-readable.
Step 3: See Results Instantly: Your encoded or decoded result will appear in the bottom output box.
Step 4: Use or Copy the Result: Now you can copy the output and use it wherever you need in emails, APIs, web forms, etc.
Step 5 (Optional): Hit Clear: Want to start fresh? Just click “Clear” to reset both boxes.
Why Would You Need a URL Encoder or Decoder?
Here are some real-world scenarios where this tool becomes super handy:
1. Web Developers: If you’re building apps or websites, you often need to encode parameters in URLs especially for GET requests in APIs. Our tool lets you test this easily.
2. Marketers & SEO Experts: Want to track UTM links or analyze redirects? URL encoding helps ensure all values are transmitted correctly.
3. Email Marketing: Links in HTML emails need to be encoded properly to avoid breaking or getting flagged.
4. Students & Learners: Studying web dev or working on a school project? Use this to learn how URL formatting works in real-time.
5. Everyday Internet Users: Found a weird URL on a website and want to understand it? Decode it with a click.
Pro Tip: What’s the Difference Between encodeURI and encodeURI Component?
When coding in JavaScript, both are used for encoding but in slightly different contexts.
- encodeURI() is used to encode a full URI (URL with parameters)
- encodeURIComponent() is used to encode just a part (like a query value)
Our tool uses encodeURIComponent() . It’s more precise and covers all special characters.
Examples of URL Encoding and Decoding
| Original Text | Encoded Result |
| Hello World | Hello%20World |
| name=John&age=25 | name%3DJohn%26age%3D25 |
| https://example.com/test?x=1&y=2 | https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Ftest%3Fx%3D1%26y%3D2 |
Try decoding one of these in the tool to see how it works.
What Characters Get Encoded?
Not all characters need encoding. But special ones like below must be encoded in URLs: # % & ? = + / : @
These can interfere with how the browser or server reads the URL. Encoding ensures safe transmission.
Why Our Tool Is Better Than Others
There are many encoder tools online, but here’s what sets ours apart:
- No page reloads: Everything works instantly with JavaScript.
- Minimal & modern design: Clean UI that works fast on all devices.
- Built-in mobile responsiveness: No pinch-zooming needed.
- Free forever: No premium wall, no account needed.
We built this for real users not for ads, not for fluff.
Final Words: Try It Yourself
If you’ve ever faced broken URLs, weird redirects, or unreadable strings, this tool is your best friend. And the best part? It’s completely free, lightning fast, and built for humans not robots. Give it a try now. Just paste, click, done. If this URL encoder decoder helped, try our JS Minifier to optimize your JavaScript code.