About URL encode / decode conversion
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, ampersands, question marks, non-English letters, and many symbols must be percent-encoded — a space becomes %20, an ampersand %26 — or they will break a link or get misread as part of the URL's structure. Encoding is essential when building query strings by hand, crafting tracking parameters, or passing a full URL as a parameter inside another URL.
The encoder uses the strict component rules from JavaScript's encodeURIComponent. That means reserved characters such as /, ?, &, =, and # are encoded too, which is exactly right for a single parameter value but will mangle a complete address if you paste the whole thing in. Encode only the value part, then assemble the URL.
Decoding goes the other way, turning a long, unreadable link from an email or log file into plain text so you can see where it points and what parameters it carries. Malformed sequences, such as a lone % sign, produce a clear error instead of a half-decoded result. Note that plus signs are left as-is when decoding; they are not converted to spaces.
How to do it
- Open the Text tool from the button above; URL encode and URL decode are highlighted.
- Paste the parameter value to encode, or the encoded link to decode.
- Click URL encode or URL decode.
- If you encoded, insert the result after the = sign in your query string.
- Copy the output to your clipboard.
