URL Encoder

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (percent-encoding) converts characters that have special meaning in URLs into a safe encoded format, ensuring they're treated as literal data rather than URL structure. The encoding replaces each unsafe character with a % followed by the character's two-digit hex code: space → %20, & → %26, = → %3D, + → %2B, # → %23. This is essential when including user-provided text in URLs, constructing API request parameters, handling file names with spaces or special characters, and embedding any data in URL paths or query strings.

How to Use the URL Encode Tool

Enter the text you want to URL-encode in the input box.
Click Encode — special characters are converted to their percent-encoded equivalents.
Copy the encoded output to use safely in a URL.

This URL encoder runs entirely in your browser — no data is sent to any server. Encodes all characters that are not URL-safe. Useful for encoding API parameters, file names, search queries, and any text that will be embedded in a URL.

Need to decode URLs? Try our URL Decoder →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI in JavaScript? encodeURIComponent encodes all special characters including /, ?, =, &, # — treating the input as a single component value. encodeURI encodes fewer characters, preserving URL structural characters. Use encodeURIComponent for individual parameter values; use encodeURI only for complete URLs that are already properly structured.

Should I encode the entire URL or just parameter values? Only encode individual parameter values and path segments that contain user input or special characters. Encoding the structural characters of the URL (/, ?, &, =) would break it. This tool encodes the entire input as a single value — paste just the value you want to encode, not the whole URL.

Why does Google use + instead of %20 in search URLs? Google uses + for space in query strings following the application/x-www-form-urlencoded convention used by HTML forms. Both + and %20 represent a space in query parameters. %20 is the strict RFC 3986 encoding; + is the legacy HTML form encoding. Modern implementations accept both.

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