URL Decode & Encode — Free Online URL Decoder and Encoder

URL Decode & Encode — Free Online URL Decoder and Encoder. Free online URL decoder and encoder. Decode percent-encoded URLs or URL encode any text with encodeURIComponent, encodeURI or strict RFC 3986 — spaces as %20 or +, line by line — 100% in your browser.

Our free online URL decoder and encoder converts text to and from percent encoding instantly.

Type or paste into the Encode box to URL encode spaces, ampersands, slashes, emoji and accented characters (Hello world → Hello%20world), or paste a string like caf%C3%A9%20%26%20cr%C3%A8me into the Decode box to URL decode it back to readable text.

Both directions update live as you type, show how many %XX escapes are involved, and let you copy the result, clear the input or send it straight to the other side to check that it round-trips. Choose exactly how to encode URL strings.

Component mode matches JavaScript's encodeURIComponent and is the right choice for query-string values and path segments; Full URL mode matches encodeURI and keeps :/?#&= intact so a whole link stays clickable (the classic encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent question, answered with one click); RFC 3986 mode additionally escapes !'()* for strict OAuth signatures and AWS-style canonical requests.

Turn on space as + to produce or read application/x-www-form-urlencoded form data (the URL encode space as + convention), process multi-line lists line by line, and enable decode recursively to unwrap double-encoded values such as %2520 in one go.

Everything runs locally in your browser, so API keys, OAuth tokens, redirect URLs and UTM-tagged campaign links are never sent to a server. Share a link that restores your text and options for a teammate.

Need to split a link into protocol, host, path and query parameters? Use our URL Parser. Related tools: URL Extractor, Safelink Decoder, Base64 Decode & Encode, HTML Encode & Decode and String Escape / Unescape.

Frequently asked questions

How do I URL encode or decode a string with this tool?

Type or paste plain text into the Encode card and the percent-encoded result appears below it. To decode, paste a string such as caf%C3%A9 into the Decode card. Click Copy to grab a result, or Send to decoder and Send to encoder to check that it round-trips.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

Component mode (encodeURIComponent) escapes every reserved character, including : / ? # & and =, so use it for query-string values and path segments. Full URL mode (encodeURI) leaves those characters intact so a complete link stays usable. Strict RFC 3986 mode works like Component but also escapes ! ' ( ) and *.

How do I URL encode spaces as + instead of %20?

Turn on the Space as + (form encoding) switch. The encoder then writes spaces as + like application/x-www-form-urlencoded form data, and the decoder reads + back as a space. With the switch off, spaces become %20 and a + is kept as a literal plus sign.

How do I decode a double-encoded URL such as %2520?

Enable Decode recursively. The decoder then keeps decoding, up to 10 passes, until no percent escapes are left, so %2520 becomes %20 and then a space in one step. Turn on Line by line to process a list with one URL per line.

Why does the decoder say Impossible to parse this string?

The input contains a malformed percent sequence, for example a lone % or %E9 on its own, which is not valid UTF-8. Fix or remove that sequence, or write a literal percent sign as %25, and the decoded text appears again.

Is my data sent to a server?

No. Encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser, so API keys, tokens and redirect URLs never leave your device. Your text is only put into a URL if you click the button to copy a share link.

How to use this online tool

URL Decode & Encode — Free Online URL Decoder and Encoder is designed for fast browser workflows when you need to format, validate, convert, decode, encode, generate, or inspect data without opening a heavy desktop app. Start with the input field or visible options, review the result, then copy or download the output for the next step.

Private processing in your browser

URL Decode & Encode — Free Online URL Decoder and Encoder keeps the normal processing step local in your browser. That is useful for code snippets, tokens, documents, configuration values, text samples, and other material that should not be sent to a remote service unless you explicitly choose to share it.

When this tool is useful

Use URL Decode & Encode — Free Online URL Decoder and Encoder for repeatable developer tasks, technical documentation, QA checks, quick conversions, debugging, content cleanup, and internal team workflows. The page focuses on clear inputs, immediate feedback, and output that is easy to reuse in code, reports, tickets, emails, or notes.

Practical tips

Before copying the final result, check important details such as spacing, casing, filenames, encoding, token structure, line breaks, or output format. Small checks prevent mistakes when the result is reused in source code, API requests, documentation, spreadsheets, or shared files.