URL Encoder Online
Encode any text or URL to percent-encoded format instantly with our free online URL encoder. Paste your input and get the encoded result in real time — all processing happens in your browser with no data sent to any server.
What is URL Encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) is a method for representing characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs. Reserved characters like spaces, &,=, ?, and # are replaced with a % sign followed by the character's two-digit hexadecimal ASCII code. For example:
space→%20&→%26=→%3D/→%2F
When to Use URL Encoding
- Query parameters: Encode values before appending to URLs (
?q=hello%20world) - API requests: Encode user-provided values in REST API endpoints
- Form data: GET forms automatically encode input, but you may need manual encoding in code
- Redirect URLs: Encode destination URLs when passing them as parameters
- OAuth / authentication: Encode callback URLs and access tokens correctly
encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent
This tool uses encodeURIComponent, which encodes all characters except letters, digits, and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ). This is the correct function for encoding individual query parameter values. If you need to encode a full URL while preserving its structure (:, /, ?), use encodeURI instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not safe in a URL into a format that can be transmitted over the internet. Special characters like spaces, &, =, and ? are replaced with a % sign followed by their hexadecimal ASCII code (e.g., a space becomes %20).
When do I need to URL encode?
You need URL encoding when including user input in query string parameters, building API request URLs, sending form data via GET requests, or embedding URLs inside other URLs. Without encoding, special characters can break the URL structure or be misinterpreted by servers.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes a full URL and leaves characters like / : ? & = # intact (they have special meaning in URLs). encodeURIComponent encodes a URL component (like a query parameter value) and encodes those characters too. This tool uses encodeURIComponent, which is the correct choice for encoding individual parameter values.
Is this URL encoder safe to use with sensitive data?
Yes. All encoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your data is never sent to any server, stored, or logged. You can use this tool completely offline.
How do I decode a URL-encoded string?
Use our companion URL Decoder tool to convert percent-encoded strings back to their original form.
Need to reverse the operation? Use our URL Decoder.