URL encoder & decoder
Encode text for a URL, or decode percent codes like %20 back to readable text, live as you type. Free, private — nothing leaves your device.
Your URL-encoded text will appear here.Everything you need to encode and decode URLs
Live encode and decode
The result updates instantly as you type — no button to click, no page reload.
Full URL or single value
Encode every reserved character for a query value, or keep : / ? & = intact when you're encoding a whole address.
One-click swap
Swap the output back into the input and flip the mode to check your work or reverse a conversion.
Full UTF-8 support
Emoji, accented letters, and non-Latin scripts encode and decode correctly.
Clear error messages
A cut-off % code or invalid UTF-8 is explained in plain words instead of failing silently.
100% private
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type or paste is uploaded or stored.
Copy or download
Grab the result to your clipboard, or download it as a .txt file.
Encode or decode a URL in three steps
- 1
Pick Encode or Decode and paste your text
Choose "Encode" to turn text or a URL into percent codes, or "Decode" to turn codes like %20 back into readable text, then type or paste into the input box.
- 2
Read the result instantly
The conversion updates live as you type. Use the option under the tabs to keep URL characters such as : / ? & = when encoding a full address, or to treat + as a space when decoding.
- 3
Copy, download, or swap
Grab the result with one click, download it as a .txt file, or hit swap to convert it right back and check your work.
Built for developers, marketers, and quick checks
Percent encoding shows up wherever text has to fit inside a web address: query strings, UTM parameters, redirect links, and API calls. PixelTools encodes and decodes it instantly, with no upload and no account needed.
Building links and UTM parameters
Encode a campaign name, search term, or redirect target so spaces and & signs don't break the link.
Reading messy URLs
Decode a long %2F-filled link from a log, email, or analytics report to see where it really points.
Debugging API requests
Check that a query string or form body is encoded the way the server expects before you send it.
Learning how URLs work
See exactly how characters become percent codes and back — a common early topic in web development courses.
Frequently asked questions
What is URL encoding?
+
URL encoding, also called percent encoding, replaces characters that aren't allowed in a web address with a % followed by two hex digits. A space becomes %20 and an ampersand becomes %26, so the text can travel safely inside a link.
What's the difference between encoding a component and a whole URL?
+
By default every reserved character (including : / ? # & = + and spaces) is encoded, which is what you want for a single value such as a search term or a UTM parameter. Tick "Keep URL characters" when you're encoding a full address, so the : / ? # & = that give the URL its structure stay as they are.
Why do some URLs use + instead of %20 for a space?
+
Form submissions and many query strings write a space as +, while the standard percent-encoded form is %20. When decoding, the "Treat + as a space" option (on by default) reads + as a space; untick it if your + is a literal plus sign.
Why does my URL fail to decode?
+
Usually there is a % that isn't followed by two hex digits, often because the string was cut off when copied or contains a literal % that should have been written %25. The tool tells you which problem it found.
Does this handle emoji and accented characters?
+
Yes. Text is encoded as UTF-8, so é becomes %C3%A9 and an emoji becomes four percent codes, and decoding turns them back correctly.
Is URL encoding the same as encryption?
+
No. Percent encoding is only a way to make text safe inside a URL. Anyone can decode it instantly, so never rely on it to hide a password or token.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
+
No. Everything runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript — nothing you type or paste is sent to a server.
Try the URL encoder and decoder now
Free, no account needed.