Add the text, code or data.
01Developer toolFormatted output
URL Encode / Decode
Percent-encode URLs and query values.
100% FreeRuns instantlyNo watermark
- 1Paste inputAdd the text, code or data.
- 2AdjustChoose formatting or generation options.
- 3RunProcess everything in the browser.
Private by designProcessed on your device where possible.
Works on any deviceDesktop, tablet and mobile browsers.
No installationOpen the page and start working.
Always free coreUse the free plan for everyday tasks.
How to use URL Encode / Decode
Choose formatting or generation options.
02Process everything in the browser.
03Copy or download the clean result.
04Your files stay private
Your work is processed locally in your browser where possible and is never added to a Vootkit upload library.
Learn more about privacyA URL can only contain a limited set of characters. Spaces, ampersands, question marks and anything non-English have to be escaped, and getting it wrong silently truncates the link at the first offending character.
What URL Encode / Decode does
Percent-encodes text for safe use in a URL, and decodes it back.
There is a checkbox that matters more than it looks: whether to encode each component. On, ampersands and equals signs are escaped, which is right for a value inside a query string. Off, they are preserved, which is right when you are encoding a whole URL.
Encoding rules
| Space | Becomes %20 (or + in older form encoding) |
|---|---|
| Ampersand | %26 — otherwise it starts a new parameter |
| Question mark | %3F — otherwise it starts the query string |
| Hash | %23 — otherwise the rest is treated as a fragment |
| Encode each component ON | For a value inside a query string — escapes & = ? / |
| Encode each component OFF | For a whole URL — leaves the structure intact |
| Non-English characters | Encoded as UTF-8 byte sequences |
Detailed steps
- Paste the text or URL.
- Set Encode each component — on for a query value, off for a full URL.
- Press Encode or Decode.
Worth knowing
The classic bug is a URL that works until someone puts an ampersand in a search box, at which point everything after it vanishes. That is the component checkbox being off when it should be on — the ampersand is read as the start of a new parameter rather than part of the value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the component checkbox be on or off?
On when you are encoding a value that goes inside a URL — a search term, a name, a redirect target. Off when you are encoding an entire URL and need its slashes, question mark and ampersands to keep working. On is the safer default.
My decoded text has stray % signs.
The string is not valid percent-encoding — usually because it was encoded twice, or a literal % was never escaped as %25. Try decoding a second time; if that fails, the source is malformed.
Why did a space become + instead of %20?
Older HTML form encoding uses + for a space, while URL percent-encoding uses %20. Both appear in the wild. Decoders generally accept either, but if a value looks wrong this is often why.
Do I need to encode non-English characters?
Browsers display them, but the underlying request encodes them as UTF-8 byte sequences. Encoding explicitly avoids surprises when the URL is passed between systems that handle it differently.
Is URL Encode / Decode free?
Yes. The Vootkit free plan includes 5 tool runs a day. Upgrade to Vootkit Pro for unlimited daily use, an ad-free workspace and saved workflows.
Are my files uploaded?
No. URL Encode / Decode runs entirely in your browser — your file is processed on your own device and never sent to a server. There is nothing for us to store or delete.
Do I need to install anything?
No. URL Encode / Decode works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. Open the page and start.
How often can I use it? Is there a daily limit?
On the free plan you get 5 tool runs a day. When you reach the limit you'll see a prompt to upgrade, and it resets the next day. Vootkit Pro removes the cap entirely for unlimited daily use.
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This tool processes everything locally in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.