URL Encoder/Decoder

    Encode and decode URLs with special characters instantly

    URL Encoder/Decoder

    About URL Encoding

    URL Encoding (or percent-encoding) is a method used to encode special characters in a URL so that it can be transmitted safely over the Internet. URLs can only contain a limited set of characters — letters, digits, and a few special symbols — and any other character must be converted to a valid format.

    When a character cannot be represented directly in a URL, it is replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits that represent the character’s ASCII code. This ensures compatibility across web browsers, servers, and communication protocols.

    Why URL Encoding Matters

    • Prevents errors when transmitting data through URLs.
    • Ensures that query parameters and form submissions are correctly parsed.
    • Allows special characters (like spaces or punctuation) to be safely included.
    • Improves interoperability between different web systems.

    Common Encoded Characters

    • Space → %20
    • ! → %21
    • # → %23
    • $ → %24
    • & → %26
    • ' → %27
    • ( → %28
    • ) → %29
    • + → %2B
    • / → %2F

    Example:The URL https://example.com/search?query=hello worldbecomes https://example.com/search?query=hello%20world after encoding.

    🔍 Fun fact: URL encoding is part of the larger URI standard defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), ensuring consistent data exchange across all web technologies.