Why encode URLs?
URLs can only contain certain ASCII characters. Encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits.
What is "Encode All"?
This uses JavaScript's encodeURIComponent function, which encodes special characters like / , ?, and &, making it suitable for encoding URL parameters.
Is it secure?
Yes, the encoding and decoding happen entirely within your browser. No data is sent to any server.
Which characters are safe?
Alphanumeric characters, hyphens, underscores, dots, and tildes are generally safe and left unencoded.
What does the % symbol mean?
The % symbol indicates that the following two characters represent the hexadecimal code of the original character.
Can I decode multiple times?
Yes, if a URL was double-encoded, you might need to click 'Decode' multiple times to retrieve the original text.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is used for full URLs and preserves special characters like : / ? #. encodeURIComponent encodes everything, making it suitable for query parameters.
Why does space become %20 or +?
Spaces are unsafe in URLs. They are typically encoded as %20 in paths and + in query strings (application/x-www-form-urlencoded).
Can I decode a partial URL?
Yes, the tool will decode whatever string you paste, even if it is just a fragment of a URL.
Is this tool useful for SEO?
Yes, checking how your URLs are encoded can help debug issues with links and redirects.