URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode URLs for SEO-friendly formatting. Essential tool for handling special characters in URLs, query parameters, and API endpoints.
Enter Your URL
Type or paste the URL you want to encode
Common URL Characters
Encoded URL
Safe for use in URLs
Enter a URL to see the encoded result
Conversion happens instantly as you type
When to Use URL Encoding
- Query Parameters: Encode special characters in URL parameters
- API Requests: Safely pass data in API endpoints
- Form Data: Encode form submissions in GET requests
- Email Links: Create mailto links with special characters
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) is the process of converting characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs can only contain a limited set of characters from the ASCII character set. Any characters outside this set must be encoded using percent signs (%) followed by hexadecimal values.
Why URL Encoding Matters
URLs must follow strict standards. Special characters like spaces, ampersands, and question marks have specific meanings in URLs and must be encoded when used as data values.
SEO & Technical Benefits
Properly encoded URLs prevent broken links, improve crawlability, and ensure your content is accessible to search engines and users across all browsers and platforms.
Example
The URL with spaces and special characters:
https://example.com/search?q=SEO tools & tipsMust be encoded as:
https://example.com/search?q=SEO%20tools%20%26%20tipsUnderstanding URL Encoding Characters
Space Character
The most common encoded character. Spaces in URLs must be encoded as %20 (or + in some contexts like form data). Never leave spaces unencoded in URLs.
Ampersand (&)
Ampersands separate query parameters in URLs. When & is part of the actual data (not a separator), it must be encoded as %26.
Question Mark (?)
Question marks start the query string in URLs. When ? appears in data values, encode it as %3F to distinguish it from the query string delimiter.
Equals Sign (=)
Equals signs assign values to query parameters. When = is part of the value itself, encode it as %3D to prevent parsing errors.
Hash/Pound (#)
Hash symbols denote URL fragments (anchors). When # is part of your data, encode it as %23. Important for hashtags and anchor links.
Percent Sign (%)
The percent sign itself must be encoded as %25 when it appears as data. This prevents confusion with percent-encoded characters.
Forward Slash (/)
Slashes separate path segments in URLs. When / is part of a query parameter value, encode it as %2F to prevent path confusion.
Plus Sign (+)
Plus signs can represent spaces in query strings (older convention). To use + as an actual plus sign, encode it as %2B.
URL Encoding for SEO Best Practices
Clean, Readable URLs
- • Avoid excessive URL encoding in your main URL paths
- • Use hyphens instead of spaces in URL slugs: /seo-tools (not /SEO%20Tools)
- • Keep URLs human-readable for better user experience and SEO
- • Reserve encoding for query parameters and special data values
Canonical URLs
- • Use consistent encoding across your site to avoid duplicate content
- • Set canonical tags for URLs with encoded parameters
- • Don't mix encoded and non-encoded versions of the same URL
- • Search engines may treat differently encoded URLs as separate pages
International & Special Characters
- • Encode non-ASCII characters (accents, umlauts, Chinese, etc.)
- • Use UTF-8 encoding for international character support
- • Consider using Punycode for international domain names
- • Test encoded URLs in multiple browsers and devices
API & Technical SEO
- • Always encode query parameters when making API requests
- • Use proper encoding when implementing structured data with URLs
- • Encode redirect URLs to prevent 400/500 errors
- • Test encoded URLs in your sitemap.xml for validation
Common URL Encoding Use Cases
Search Query Parameters
When users search on your site, encode their queries in the URL. This ensures special characters don't break the URL or cause security issues.
Tracking & Analytics
UTM parameters and tracking codes often contain special characters. Proper encoding ensures accurate analytics tracking across platforms.
Social Sharing Links
Create share links for social media with encoded text. This is essential for pre-filled posts with special characters, hashtags, and mentions.
Email & Contact Links
Mailto links with subject lines and body text require encoding. This ensures emails open correctly with pre-filled content across all email clients.
API Endpoints & Webhooks
When passing data through API URLs, encode all user input and dynamic values. This prevents injection attacks and ensures reliable data transmission.
Redirect URLs
When building redirect chains or passing return URLs, encode the destination URL completely to preserve all special characters through the redirect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?▼
encodeURIComponent (used by this tool) encodes all special characters including /, ?, &, =, and #. Use this for encoding individual query parameter values. encodeURIpreserves URL structure characters (/, ?, #, &) and only encodes characters that are completely invalid in URLs. Use encodeURI for encoding entire URLs, and encodeURIComponent for parameter values.
Should I encode URLs in my sitemap.xml?▼
Yes, but use XML entity encoding, not URL encoding. In XML files like sitemaps, encode XML special characters: & becomes &, < becomes <, etc. The actual URL should still use proper URL encoding for special characters in paths and parameters.
Do encoded URLs hurt SEO?▼
Not inherently. Search engines can read encoded URLs. However, human-readable URLs (like /seo-tools) are better for SEO than heavily encoded ones (like /%73%65%6F%2D%74%6F%6F%6C%73). Use encoding for query parameters and when necessary, but keep your main URL paths clean and readable.
Can I use + instead of %20 for spaces?▼
The + character is an older convention for spaces in query strings and is still valid in many contexts (especially form submissions). However, %20 is the more modern, universal standard and works everywhere. For consistency and clarity, use %20. If you need an actual + sign, you must encode it as %2B.
How do I encode non-English characters?▼
This tool uses UTF-8 encoding (via encodeURIComponent) which handles all Unicode characters including Chinese, Arabic, emoji, and accented characters. Each character may encode to multiple bytes: "ñ" becomes %C3%B1, "中" becomes %E4%B8%AD. This ensures proper transmission across all systems.
Is this tool free and private?▼
Yes, completely! This URL encoder/decoder is 100% free with no limits. All encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript—no data is sent to any server. Your URLs remain completely private and never leave your device.
URL Encoding Security Tips
🔒 Prevent URL Injection Attacks
Always encode user input before including it in URLs. Unencoded special characters can be exploited for XSS attacks, SQL injection, or open redirects. Never trust user input—encode everything.
⚠️ Validate After Decoding
When receiving encoded URLs, decode them but always validate the result. Attackers can use encoding to hide malicious payloads. Check decoded values against allowlists and expected formats.
🛡️ Double Encoding Risks
Be careful not to double-encode URLs (encoding already encoded strings). This can bypass security filters and create unexpected behavior. Decode before re-encoding, or track encoding state.
✓ Server-Side Encoding
While this client-side tool is great for testing, always perform encoding on the server when handling sensitive data. Server-side encoding ensures consistency and prevents client-side manipulation.