Private browser utility
Free Online URL Encoder Decoder
Encode and decode URLs, query strings, and special characters instantly.
How to use the Free URL Encoder Decoder
Paste a URL, query parameter, redirect value, or text string into the input area. Choose Encode URL to escape spaces and reserved characters, or Decode URL to turn percent-encoded values back into readable text. The result updates instantly in the browser.
Why use a URL Encoder and Decoder?
URLs cannot safely contain every character exactly as typed. Spaces, ampersands, question marks, slashes, and non-ASCII characters can break query strings or change the meaning of a link. URL encoding protects those values when building links, redirects, analytics tags, and API requests.
This is a client-side developer tool, so the URLs and parameters you paste are processed locally. That is useful when debugging campaign links, private staging URLs, internal API parameters, or redirect rules.
Common URL Encoding Workflows
- UTM links: Encode campaign names, sources, and content values that contain spaces or symbols.
- API testing: Safely pass user-entered values inside query parameters.
- Redirect debugging: Decode long redirect URLs to inspect the destination and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I URL encode text?
Use URL encoding when a value will be placed inside a query string, redirect URL, API parameter, or link where spaces and special characters must be escaped.
What does percent encoding mean?
Percent encoding replaces reserved characters with a percent sign followed by a hexadecimal code, such as %20 for a space.