URL Encoder / Decoder
Percent-encode or decode URLs and inspect every query parameter.
What is URL encoding?
A URL may only contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, accented letters, emoji and symbols such as &, ? and # either are not allowed or have a special meaning. URL encoding, also called percent encoding, replaces those characters with a % sign followed by two hexadecimal digits for each byte. A space becomes %20 and the letter é becomes %C3%A9. Decoding reverses the process so you can read the original text.
How to encode or decode a URL
- Paste your text or URL into the input box.
- Choose Component mode for a single value such as a search term, or Full URL mode for a complete address.
- Click Encode or Decode.
- Copy the result, or click Parse this URL to break it into parts.
Component vs full URL encoding
- Component mode uses
encodeURIComponent. It encodes every reserved character, including/ ? & = #, which is right for a single query value or path segment. - Full URL mode uses
encodeURI. It keeps the characters that give a URL its structure, so a complete address stays usable. - Plus as space: HTML forms encode spaces as
+. Keep this option ticked when decoding form data.
The URL parser
Long tracking links and API calls are hard to read. Paste any URL into the parser and it instantly shows the protocol, origin, host, hostname, port, path, query string and fragment. Every query parameter is listed in a table with its decoded value, including repeated keys such as size=M&size=L. You can copy all parameters as JSON for use in code or documentation.
Common uses
Developers encode user input before adding it to a query string so that an ampersand in a search term does not break the request. Marketers decode UTM tracking links to check campaign names. Support teams inspect redirect URLs to see where a link really leads. SEO specialists check that URLs with non-English characters are encoded consistently.
Tips
Encode each value separately, not the whole URL at once, otherwise the slashes and question mark that hold the URL together get encoded too. If decoding fails, the input probably contains a lone % that is not followed by two hex digits. The tool decodes the valid parts and leaves the broken sequence as it is so you can find it.
Everything happens in your browser, so private links that contain session IDs, email addresses or access tokens are never sent to our server while you inspect them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURIComponent encodes reserved characters such as / ? & = and #, so it is used for single values. encodeURI leaves them alone so a whole URL keeps its structure.
Why does a space sometimes become + instead of %20?
HTML form submissions use + for spaces in query strings. Both are common, and the decoder can treat + as a space when that option is ticked.
Does the parser support URLs without https://?
Yes. If the address has no protocol, the parser assumes https:// so you can still see the host, path and parameters.