How to URL Encode and Decode Online (Free)
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. When you need to put a space, an ampersand, a question mark or non-English text into a URL, it must be percent-encoded — turned into codes like %20 for a space. This guide explains what URL encoding is, which characters need it, and how to encode and decode URLs for free.
🔗 Try the URL Encoder / Decoder now — freeOpen →Get URL encoding wrong and links break, query parameters get cut off, and form data arrives corrupted. Encoding ensures special characters travel safely inside a URL; decoding turns an encoded URL back into readable text. It's an everyday need when building links, APIs and forms.
What percent-encoding is
URLs reserve certain characters for structure: ? starts a query, & separates parameters, / separates paths, # marks a fragment. To use these characters as data — or to include spaces and non-ASCII text — they're replaced with a percent sign and a code. A space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and so on.
This keeps the URL unambiguous: the browser and server know that %26 is literal data, not a parameter separator. Decoding reverses the process to show the original text.
Which characters need encoding
- Spaces — become %20 (or + in query strings).
- Reserved characters — ? & = # / : need encoding when used as data.
- Non-ASCII text — accents and non-Latin scripts are percent-encoded.
- Symbols like %, +, and spaces in query values.
- Safe characters — letters, digits and - _ . ~ never need encoding.
Step-by-step
Common mistakes to avoid
Pro tips
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
Replacing characters that aren't allowed in a URL with percent-codes (like %20 for a space) so they travel safely.
Which characters need encoding?
Spaces, reserved characters (? & = # /) used as data, and any non-ASCII text. Letters, digits and - _ . ~ are safe.
Why did my URL break?
Often an unencoded space or & in a value, or double-encoding. Encode only the data parts, once.
Is it free and private?
Yes — free with no sign-up, and it runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
What's the difference between %20 and +?
Both represent a space; %20 is used in paths, while + is common in query strings.
URL encoding keeps special characters and text safe inside links, APIs and forms — and decoding makes encoded URLs readable again. Encode the data parts once, avoid double-encoding, and your links won't break. Free and private in your browser.