Quick Answer
What is URL encoding?
// Answer
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces characters that are unsafe in a URL — like spaces, &, ?, and non-ASCII characters — with a % followed by hex digits. A space becomes %20. This keeps query strings and links valid. Decoding reverses it.
Why use this tool
Build valid links
When you put user text, search terms, or parameters into a URL, special characters can break the link or change its meaning. Encoding makes them safe. This tool uses the same standard your browser does, and runs entirely on your device.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
It converts unsafe characters into a percent-hex format so they can be safely included in a URL or query string.
Spaces are not allowed in URLs, so they are encoded as %20 (or sometimes + in form data).
When you receive an encoded link and want to read the original text, such as a search query embedded in a URL.
Yes, encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser.
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