HIFreeTools

Free URL Encoder & Decoder

Encode text for safe use in a URL, or decode a percent-encoded URL back to readable text. Runs in your browser with full Unicode support.

Quick answer

URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces characters that aren't allowed in a URL with a “%” followed by their byte value in hexadecimal. For example, a space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26. Decoding reverses it back to the original text.

Formula & method

Encoding uses the browser's encodeURIComponent, which escapes every character that isn't safe in a URL component (spaces, &, =, ?, #, and non-ASCII characters as UTF-8 bytes). Decoding uses decodeURIComponent to restore the original text. Everything runs locally, so your URLs and tokens are never uploaded.

Examples

Example 1: Encode a space
Input
hello world
Result
hello%20world
Why
The space becomes %20.
Example 2: Encode query characters
Input
a&b=c
Result
a%26b%3Dc
Why
& becomes %26 and = becomes %3D so they don't break the query.
Example 3: Decode
Input
caf%C3%A9
Result
café
Why
%C3%A9 is the UTF-8 encoding of “é”.

When to use this tool

  • Putting a value with spaces or symbols into a URL query string.
  • Decoding a percent-encoded link to read what it contains.
  • Building API request URLs safely.

Common mistakes

  • Encoding a whole URL with component encoding, which escapes the “://” and slashes. Encode only the parts (like query values).
  • Double-encoding — encoding text that's already encoded turns %20 into %2520.
  • Forgetting that + is sometimes used for spaces in query strings, while %20 is the strict form.

Frequently asked questions

＋ What is URL encoding?

It's a way to represent characters that aren't allowed in a URL by replacing them with a percent sign and their hexadecimal byte value, like %20 for a space.

＋ When do I need it?

Whenever a value placed in a URL contains spaces, symbols like & or =, or non-English characters, so the URL stays valid and unambiguous.

＋ What's the difference between %20 and + for spaces?

Both can represent a space in a query string. %20 is the strict percent-encoded form; + is an older convention used in form submissions. This tool produces %20.

＋ Does it handle non-English characters?

Yes. Characters are encoded as UTF-8 bytes, so accents, emoji, and other scripts encode and decode correctly.

＋ Is my input uploaded?

No. Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser.

  • ✓ Free to use
  • ✓ No sign-up required
  • ✓ Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
  • ✓ Formula and method shown above
Last updated: How we calculateReport a correctionDisclaimer

Provided “as is” for general information only — results may be inaccurate, so verify before you rely on them. No warranty; use at your own risk.

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