Free Online URL Encoder & Decoder
Percent-encode URLs, query strings, and parameter values, or decode encoded URL components back to readable text. Everything runs in your browser — no uploads, no account, no data sent to BuBird servers.
✓ Free developer tool✓ No account required✓ Browser-based utility✓ Fast results✓ Mobile friendly
URL to Encode
This tool runs in your browser and does not upload your data to BuBird servers.
How To Use
How to Use URL Encoder & Decoder
1
Choose Encode or Decode
Select whether you want to encode a plain text string to a URL-safe format or decode an already-encoded URL string.
2
Paste Your Input
Enter the URL, query string, or parameter value you want to encode or decode.
3
Get the Result
The encoded or decoded output appears instantly. Special characters are converted to or from their percent-encoded equivalents.
4
Copy and Use
Copy the result and use it in your HTTP requests, API calls, code, or browser address bar.
Example
Example Use
Passing Search Queries in a URL Parameter
You are building a search feature and need to include user-entered text as a query parameter. If the user types coffee & tea, you encode it to coffee%20%26%20tea before appending to the URL as ?q=coffee%20%26%20tea. The URL Encoder handles this conversion instantly so you can copy the safe value directly into your code.
Use Cases
Who Uses URL Encoder & Decoder
Backend Developers
Encode parameter values when constructing redirect URLs, OAuth callbacks, and query strings programmatically.
Frontend Developers
Decode query string parameters from URLs to debug routing issues and inspect values passed between pages.
API Integrators
Encode values for API endpoint parameters, especially when sending special characters in search queries or filter values.
QA Engineers
Verify that URLs with special characters in query parameters are correctly encoded in automated test requests.
Web Developers
Fix broken URLs that contain unencoded ampersands, spaces, or non-ASCII characters.
Students & Learners
Understand how URL encoding works as part of learning HTTP, web APIs, and browser behaviour.
Related Tools
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (percent encoding) converts characters that are not allowed in URLs into a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, and & becomes %26. This ensures URLs are valid and transmit safely over HTTP.
When do I need to URL-encode a string?
You need URL encoding when including special characters in a query string parameter value, when constructing URLs programmatically, or when passing values such as search queries, file paths, or user input as URL components.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI encodes an entire URL and preserves characters with URL structural meaning (like /, ?, &). encodeURIComponent encodes a single component value and also encodes those structural characters. Use encodeURIComponent for individual query parameter values.
Does this tool send my URL to a server?
No. All encoding and decoding runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your URLs and query strings are not sent to BuBird servers.
Can I decode a full URL with query parameters?
Yes. Paste the full percent-encoded URL into the decoder to see the readable version, including decoded query parameter values.