URL Encoder / Decoder
Encode and decode URLs instantly. Supports full URL mode and form-style + spaces.
The % encoding scheme was defined in RFC 1738 in 1994. A space becomes %20 because 20 is the hex value of 32 — the ASCII code for space.
How to use the URL Encoder / Decoder
Paste a plain URL or text string and click Run to encode special characters into their percent-encoded equivalents (e.g. spaces become %20 or +). Switch to Decode mode to reverse any URL-encoded string back to readable text. Enable 'Full URL mode' to preserve the protocol and slashes while only encoding the query parameters.
Step-by-step guide
- 1 Paste your URL or text
Paste the URL or plain text string into the Input panel.
- 2 Choose options
Toggle 'Full URL mode' to preserve protocol and slashes, or enable 'Spaces → +' for form-style encoding.
- 3 Click Run
Press ⚡ Run or Ctrl+Enter to encode. The result appears instantly in the Output panel.
- 4 Copy result
Click Copy to copy the encoded or decoded output to your clipboard.
What can you do with this tool?
- Encode query string parameters before appending to a URL
- Decode percent-encoded URLs from server logs or redirect chains
- Prepare safe URL parameters for REST API calls
- Decode encoded form submission data (application/x-www-form-urlencoded)
- Fix broken links with unencoded special characters
- Convert spaces to %20 or + for different URL contexts
Why use STB's URL Encoder / Decoder?
STB's URL Encoder / Decoder is completely free — no account, no email, no credit card. It runs entirely in your browser so your data never leaves your device. Whether you're a developer, student, or just someone who needs a quick url encoder / decoder, open this tool and get results in seconds. No ads, no rate limits, no paywalls — just a fast, clean tool from Software That Benefits, a studio dedicated to free tools for developers and students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts characters that are not allowed or have special meaning in URLs into a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, and & becomes %26.
When should I use %20 vs + for spaces?
%20 is the standard percent-encoded space used in URL paths and modern query strings. The + character represents a space only in the query string portion of a URL when using the application/x-www-form-urlencoded format (HTML form submissions). Use this tool's 'Spaces → +' option to switch between them.
Is this tool safe for sensitive URLs?
Yes. All encoding and decoding runs in your browser using JavaScript's built-in encodeURIComponent() and decodeURIComponent() functions. Nothing is sent to any server.
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