URL Encoder / Decoder

Enter the text that you wish to encode or decode:

About URL Encoder / Decoder

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also known as percent encoding) is a process used to convert special characters in a URL into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs are intended to represent specific resources on the web, and certain characters have special meanings in the URL syntax (such as /, ?, =, and &). Therefore, some characters need to be encoded in a way that ensures they are interpreted correctly by web servers and browsers.

URL encoding replaces non-ASCII characters and reserved characters with a "%" sign followed by a two-digit hexadecimal number that corresponds to the character’s ASCII code. For example:

• A space ( ) is encoded as %20
• A slash (/) is encoded as %2F
• A question mark (?) is encoded as %3F

What is URL Decoding?

URL decoding is the reverse process of URL encoding. It converts an encoded URL back into its original format, turning percent-encoded characters back into their corresponding characters.

For example:

• %20 becomes a space ( )
• %2F becomes a slash (/)
• %3F becomes a question mark (?)

URL decoding is necessary when data is received in its encoded format, and it needs to be reverted to its original form for further processing or display.

How Does URL Encoding and Decoding Work?

URL Encoding Process

1. Identify Special Characters: The first step in URL encoding is identifying the characters that need to be encoded. These include characters that are not allowed in a URL or characters with special meanings, like spaces, punctuation, and non-ASCII characters.
2. Replace with Percent Encoding: Each of these special characters is replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by a two-digit hexadecimal code representing the character’s ASCII value.

For example:

2. • A space ( ) becomes %20
   • A colon (:) becomes %3A
   • An ampersand (&) becomes %26
3. Handle Reserved Characters: Reserved characters that serve specific functions in URLs (such as /, =, ?, &) may be left as they are or encoded if needed, depending on the context.

How to Use a URL Encoder / Decoder Tool

A URL Encoder/Decoder tool is typically very easy to use. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use it:

1. Choose a URL Encoder/Decoder Tool: There are various tools available online that can help you encode and decode URLs. Some popular tools include:
   • URL Encoder/Decoder by Free Online Tools
   • URL Encode/Decode Tool by SEO Tools Center
   • Online URL Encoder/Decoder by Toolsley
2. Input the Text or URL:
   • If you want to encode a URL or text, simply enter the raw data (e.g., a query string, form data, or URL with special characters) into the tool’s input field.
   • If you want to decode a URL, input the percent-encoded URL or data.
3. Click the Encode or Decode Button:
   • After entering the data, click the “Encode” or “Decode” button, depending on which process you need to perform.
4. Review the Results:
   • The tool will return the encoded or decoded URL. If you encoded the URL, it will show the percent-encoded version, while decoding will return the original URL or data.

Examples of URL Encoding and Decoding

Example 1: Encoding

Suppose you want to encode the following URL with spaces and special characters:

arduino

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https://example.com/search?query=hello world

Using URL encoding, the spaces are replaced with %20, and the result would be:

perl

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https://example.com/search?query=hello%20world

Example 2: Decoding

Now, suppose you receive the following encoded URL:

perl

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https://example.com/search?query=hello%20world

After decoding, the URL becomes:

arduino

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https://example.com/search?query=hello world

Common Use Cases for URL Encoder / Decoder

1. Handling User Input in Forms
   • When users submit data via forms, the information is often encoded to ensure it can be transmitted over the internet. For example, when submitting a search query with special characters, the query is encoded so that it can be safely included in a URL.
2. URL Parameters
   • URL parameters (such as in query strings) often contain special characters like spaces, ampersands, and equal signs. These characters must be encoded to ensure proper parsing and processing by web servers.
3. Embedding URLs in Emails or Documents
   • If you need to include URLs containing special characters in emails or documents, you would use URL encoding to ensure the URL is properly formatted and does not break or cause errors when clicked.
4. API Interactions
   • APIs often require URL-encoded data in HTTP requests, particularly when passing query parameters or form data. URL encoding ensures that the data sent to an API is correctly formatted.
5. URL Shorteners
   • When using URL shortening services (like Bitly), URL encoding helps ensure that the original URL is compressed into a shorter version while maintaining its integrity.

Benefits of URL Encoder/Decoder Tools

1. Ensures Data Integrity: URL encoding ensures that data is transmitted accurately, without any errors caused by special characters.
2. Improves Compatibility: URL encoding guarantees that data is compatible across different platforms, browsers, and systems.
3. Simplifies URL Creation: URL encoding makes it easier to create URLs with special characters, preventing issues with spaces and punctuation.
4. Security: Encoding data can help prevent certain security vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection or XSS attacks, by making data safe for transmission.