URL Encoder/Decoder - Encode and Decode URLs Easily
Encode and decode URL strings securely in your browser.
How the URL Encoder/Decoder Works
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, converts characters that are not safe to transmit over the internet into a format that can be reliably transmitted. Characters are replaced with a % sign followed by two hexadecimal digits (e.g., a space becomes %20). This process is defined in the RFC 3986 specification and is essential for query strings, form data, and any URL that contains special characters.
Practical Usage
URL encoding is essential for API development and testing. When building REST APIs, query parameters with spaces, ampersands, or non-ASCII characters must be encoded to be transmitted correctly. Form submissions, redirect URLs with special parameters, and web scraping also rely heavily on proper URL encoding.
Documentation
For more technical details on URL encoding, refer to the official specification in RFC 3986.
Key Facts about URL Encoding
- URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with a % sign and two hexadecimal digits.
- The encodeURIComponent function encodes all special characters except A-Z, a-z, 0-9, - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ).
- URL encoding is defined by the RFC 3986 standard.
- This tool processes data locally in your browser β no data leaves your device.