What this page covers
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces reserved and non-ASCII characters with `%` hex sequences so URLs and query parameters parse correctly.
Quick answer
Encode or decode URL components and query strings. Free URL encoder for fixing broken links and special characters. Free in your browser on Case Modify—no… Use it in a browser with no account required, then review the output before publishing or shipping.
Part of Code & data tools
URL encode and decode: percent-encoding for query strings and paths
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces reserved and non-ASCII characters with `%` hex sequences so URLs and query parameters parse correctly. Decoding reverses the process when you inherit an over-encoded link from analytics or a legacy CMS.
Use encode before building query strings manually; use decode when reading logged URLs or debugging redirect chains.
How to use this converter
- Paste the text or full URL fragment to encode or decode.
- Choose Encode for spaces, `&`, `=`, Unicode, and symbols—or Decode to read percent sequences.
- Copy the result into your router, fetch call, or documentation.
Component encoding vs full URI encoding
`) must stay unescaped in specific positions. This tool applies standard encodeURIComponent-style rules to the pasted text—if you encode a full URL, reserved characters in the scheme and path may be encoded too. q=` links.
Plus signs, spaces, and form data
HTML form submissions historically used `+` for spaces in `application/x-www-form-urlencoded` bodies. URLs in the address bar use `%20`. If decode output shows unexpected `+`, check whether the source was form-encoded rather than URI-encoded.
Slugs, analytics, and SEO
Marketing URLs with UTM parameters should encode campaign names with spaces or special characters. For public slugs, prefer kebab-case lowercase paths instead of percent-encoded phrases—use the kebab-case converter when naming new routes.
Before and after examples
| Original | Converted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| hello world | hello%20world | Space in query value |
| caf%C3%A9 | café | UTF-8 decode |
Frequently asked questions
Should I encode the entire URL?
Usually encode only parameter values. Encoding `https://` breaks the scheme unless you intend to wrap the whole string.
Why is `%20` different from `+`?
Both can represent spaces in different contexts. URI query strings in browsers typically use `%20`.
Does encoding improve SEO?
Readable lowercase slugs beat encoded phrases. Encode only when characters are not URL-safe.
Related guides
How to use this tool
- Paste the text or full URL fragment to encode or decode.
- Choose Encode for spaces, `&`, `=`, Unicode, and symbols—or Decode to read percent sequences.
- Copy the result into your router, fetch call, or documentation.
Related pages on Case Modify
Base64 Encode & Decode — Encode strings to Base64 or decode Base64 payloads back to plain text—ideal for JWT segments, API testing, and quick debugging.
Slug Generator — Paste a headline, get a clean slug for blogs and SEO.
Frequently asked questions
Should I encode the entire URL?
Usually encode only parameter values. Encoding `https://` breaks the scheme unless you intend to wrap the whole string.
Why is `%20` different from `+`?
Both can represent spaces in different contexts. URI query strings in browsers typically use `%20`.
Does encoding improve SEO?
Readable lowercase slugs beat encoded phrases. Encode only when characters are not URL-safe.
Examples
| Before | After | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| hello world | hello%20world | Space in query value |
| caf%C3%A9 | café | UTF-8 decode |
Related Tools
Base64 Encode & Decode: Encode strings to Base64 or decode Base64 payloads back to plain text—ideal for JWT segments, API testing, and quick debugging.
UTF-8 Encoder/Decoder: See UTF-8 byte sequences or recover text from encoded data.
UTM Builder: Add utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign to any base URL.
Slugify URL Generator: Paste a headline, get a clean slug for blogs and SEO.