Make text safe to put in a link, or turn a messy %20 filled URL back into something readable.
How to encode or decode a URL
Choose Encode or Decode.
Paste your text or URL into the input box.
Pick the option that fits. For a single query value, leave the defaults alone.
Copy the result.
Common encoded characters
Character
Encoded
Character
Encoded
space
%20
&
%26
/
%2F
=
%3D
?
%3F
#
%23
:
%3A
+
%2B
@
%40
%
%25
é
%C3%A9
"
%22
Why encoding matters
Imagine a link to a search page for "salt & pepper". If you put that straight into a URL as ?q=salt & pepper, the website sees the ampersand as the start of a new parameter and only searches for "salt". Encoding it as ?q=salt%20%26%20pepper keeps the whole phrase together.
Marketers run into this when building UTM tracking links, developers when building API requests, and anyone sharing a link with unusual characters. Decoding is just as handy: paste a long tracking URL from an email and you can read exactly where it goes and what it carries.
Frequently asked questions
What does %20 mean in a URL?
It is an encoded space. URLs cannot contain spaces, so each one is replaced by a percent sign and its code in hexadecimal. %20 is a space, %2F is a slash and %26 is an ampersand.
What is the difference between the two encoding modes?
The default mode encodes everything that has a special meaning in URLs, including / ? & = and #. Use it for a single value, like a search term in a query string. "Keep URL structure" leaves those characters alone, so you can encode a full address without breaking it.
Why do some URLs use + for spaces?
HTML forms traditionally send spaces as + in query strings. When decoding text from a form or search URL, tick "Treat + as a space".
Can I encode several lines at once?
Yes. Each line is encoded or decoded on its own, so you can paste a list of values.
