URL Encoder / Decoder â Free
Encode special characters to percent-encoding (%20, %2FâŚ) or decode them back. Updates in real time as you type.
Real-time encoding
Results update instantly as you type. No button to press.
Two modes
encodeURIComponent for query values, encodeURI to encode a full URL preserving structure.
Fully private
Everything runs in your browser using the standard JS Web API. No server involved.
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that aren't safe in a URL â spaces, accented letters, symbols like &, ?, or # â into a %XX format that browsers and servers can transmit reliably. Pixvert's URL encoder converts text both ways: encoding plain text into a URL-safe string, and decoding an encoded URL back into readable text.
Without encoding, a space becomes %20, an ampersand becomes %26, and a question mark becomes %3F, since those characters have special meaning in URL syntax â a raw & inside a query string parameter, for example, would be misread as separating two different parameters.
This tool is essential for anyone building links with dynamic query parameters, debugging a URL that looks garbled with percent signs, or preparing user-generated text (like a search query or a name) to be safely embedded in a link.
How to encode or decode a URL
- 1
Choose encode or decode â switch modes depending on whether you have plain text or an already-encoded URL
- 2
Paste your input â type or paste the text or URL you want to convert
- 3
View the result instantly â the output updates live as you type
- 4
Copy the result â copy the encoded or decoded string with one click
When to use a URL encoder
Building query string parameters
Encode a value (like a search term with spaces or special characters) before appending it to a URL.
Debugging a broken link
Decode a URL full of %XX codes to read what it actually contains.
Sharing URLs with special characters
Make sure accented characters or symbols in a link don't break when shared across platforms.
Working with APIs
Encode parameters correctly before sending them in a GET request.
Why use Pixvert's URL encoder?
- â100% local processing: your text or URL is encoded/decoded entirely in your browser
- âInstant, live conversion: no button to click â output updates as you type
- âHandles full Unicode: correctly encodes accented characters and non-Latin scripts
- âFree, no signup: use it as often as you need
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my URL or text sent to a server?
No, all encoding and decoding happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is transmitted or logged.
What characters get encoded?
Reserved and unsafe characters like spaces, &, ?, #, %, and non-ASCII characters are converted to their %XX percent-encoded representation.
Why does a space become "%20" or sometimes "+"?
%20 is standard percent-encoding for a space anywhere in a URL. The "+" symbol is a legacy convention specific to encoding form data in a query string, not the general URL encoding standard.
Can I decode a URL that's already partially readable?
Yes, the decoder handles any mix of encoded and plain characters, converting only the percent-encoded sequences back to their original characters.
Does this handle full internationalized URLs?
Yes, the tool correctly encodes and decodes UTF-8 text, so accented letters and non-Latin scripts convert properly.
Is there a length limit on what I can encode?
No hard limit is enforced, though extremely long strings may take a moment to process depending on your device.