What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also known as percent-encoding) is a way to safely represent special characters inside URLs. Web browsers and servers can only reliably handle a limited set of characters in a URL, so characters like spaces, quotes, and symbols must be converted.
For example, a space character is encoded as %20,
and the & symbol is encoded as %26.
This ensures that the URL is not broken and the server can correctly
understand the data being sent.
When do you need URL encoding?
You will often need URL encoding when working with:
- Query strings such as
?search=my cool product. - Form submissions sent via GET requests.
- API calls that send data in the URL.
- Redirect URLs that contain parameters or callback links.
If you don't encode special characters, parts of the URL may be misinterpreted as control characters and cause unexpected behaviour.
How to use this URL Encode / Decode tool
- Paste your text or URL into the Input text or URL box on the left.
- Click Encode URL to convert it into a percent-encoded string, or click Decode URL to convert an encoded URL back into normal text.
- The processed result will appear in the Result box on the right.
- Click Copy result to copy the output to your clipboard.
- Use the Swap button if you want to quickly move the result back into the input box for further processing.
How does decoding work?
Decoding takes a percent-encoded string such as
https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dmy%2Bproduct
and converts it back to:
https://example.com/search?q=my+product
This tool also treats plus signs (+) as spaces when decoding, which is
common in query strings and form submissions.
Why use this URL tool on Toolvoria?
The URL Encode / Decode tool on Toolvoria runs entirely inside your browser. Your data is not sent to any server, which makes it fast and privacy friendly. You can use it for debugging, learning, or daily work with web applications, APIs, and integrations.
Whether you are a developer, marketer, or just curious about how URLs work, this free tool helps you understand and manipulate encoded URLs quickly and safely.