Practical example
Encode the query value red shoes & socks as red%20shoes%20%26%20socks while leaving the URL's structural ?, =, and & delimiters intact.
URL Encoder
Paste a URL or text value and choose encode or decode to inspect percent-encoded characters.
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) converts reserved characters into a safe format so they can be used inside URLs and query parameters.
Use this tool to encode or decode URL strings instantly in your browser. Nothing is sent to the server.
How to use the URL Encoder
- Paste a URL or text into the Input field.
- Click Encode to apply percent-encoding.
- Click Decode to convert percent-encoded text back.
- Use Swap to switch Input and Output, or Copy to copy the result.
Tips
- For full URLs, encoding usually preserves characters like ":" "/" "?" "&" "=".
- For query parameter values, percent-encoding is typically stricter (it encodes more characters).
- If your input uses "+" for spaces, Decode will treat "+" as a space.
Related guides
Learn the workflow behind this tool and what to check next.
URL encoding checks before building a request or link
Encode individual components rather than an entire URL because paths, query values, form data, and fragments follow different rules.
Encode the component
Apply percent-encoding to a path segment or query value before assembling the URL so structural delimiters remain meaningful.
Space and plus
Distinguish %20 from plus-as-space behavior in form encoding, especially when a literal plus sign is part of the value.
Avoid double encoding
Track whether values are raw or already encoded so percent signs do not become %25 and change the decoded result.
Unicode and normalization
Use UTF-8 consistently and test Unicode domains, non-ASCII paths, normalization forms, and the receiving framework's decoder.
A practical example, an edge case, and a maintainer note
Edge case
Encoding a full URL as one component double-encodes separators, while decoding twice can turn a harmless %252F into a path separator.
Maintainer note
I encode individual components at construction time instead of applying a blanket replacement to a completed URL.
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URL Encoder FAQ
Is URL encoding the same as encryption?
No. URL encoding only changes representation so the text is safe for URLs. It does not protect data.
Why do I see "%20"?
"%20" is the percent-encoded form of a space character.
Does Toolinix send my URL to a server?
No. Encoding and decoding happen locally in your browser.