🔗 URL Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode URL strings for safe transmission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding and why is it needed?
URL encoding converts special characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs can only contain certain characters (letters, numbers, and a few symbols). Special characters like spaces, ampersands, and non-ASCII characters must be encoded as %XX hex values.
What's the difference between encoding and escaping?
URL encoding (percent-encoding) uses encodeURIComponent which converts all special characters except letters, numbers, and -_.!~*'(). This is the safest method for encoding URL parameters and is different from older escape() methods which are now deprecated.
Can I encode entire URLs or just parts?
This tool uses encodeURIComponent which is designed for URL components (query parameters, path segments). Don't encode entire URLs including http:// as it will encode the slashes and colons. Only encode the dynamic parts that contain user input or special characters.
How do I use the Swap feature?
The Swap button exchanges the input and output fields. This is useful when you want to perform the reverse operation quickly - for example, after encoding, swap and decode to verify the result.