URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode or decode URLs with ease. You can exclude protocol, domain and port from encoding. To avoid double encoding during the encoding process, existing encoded fragments are decoded first.
Existing percent-encoded sequences will be decoded before encoding to prevent double-encoding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding and why is it necessary?
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, converts characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs into a safe format. It's necessary for reliable data transmission and to prevent misinterpretation of URLs by web servers and browsers.
How does URL encoding work (percent-encoding)?
It replaces unsafe or special characters with a '%' symbol followed by the character's two-digit hexadecimal ASCII value. For example, a space is encoded as '%20'.
Which characters are typically encoded in a URL?
Non-alphanumeric characters (except '-', '_', '.', '~'), reserved characters (like ';', '/', '?', ':', '@', '&', '=', '+', '$', ',') when used outside their special meaning, and unsafe characters (like space, '<' , '>', '#', '%', '{', '}' etc.).
What is URL decoding and when is it used?
URL decoding is the reverse process: converting percent-encoded sequences back to their original characters. It's used by servers to understand requested resources or by applications to process URL parameters.
Why do some URLs contain '%' symbols followed by numbers/letters?
These are percent-encoded characters. They represent special or unsafe characters that were converted to ensure the URL is valid and correctly interpreted by web systems.
When should I encode the entire URL versus just specific parameters?
Generally, you encode individual query string parameter names and values. Encoding an entire URL (including 'http://') is less common and can break it if protocol or domain parts are unnecessarily encoded. Our tool offers an option to preserve these.
Is URL encoding a security measure?
URL encoding is primarily for data integrity and compatibility, not a direct security measure against attacks like XSS or SQL injection. While it helps prevent some malformed URL issues, other security practices are essential.