URL Encode

About This Tool

So, you’ve got a URL that’s got spaces, weird symbols, or characters that just don’t belong in a web address. Maybe you’re building a link for an API, sending data through a query string, or just trying to make sure your URL doesn’t break when someone clicks it. That’s where URL encoding comes in. URL encoding—also called percent encoding—is basically a way to translate characters that aren’t allowed in URLs into a format that’s safe to use. It replaces problematic characters with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, and an ampersand (&) becomes %26. It’s not magic. It’s just a standard. And honestly, once you’ve done it a few times, it starts to feel second nature. Most programming languages have built-in functions for it, and there are plenty of online tools that’ll do it for you in a click. But knowing how it works? That’s useful.

Key Features

• Converts spaces, symbols, and non-ASCII characters into URL-safe formats
• Uses percent encoding (%XX) to represent unsafe characters
• Preserves alphanumeric characters and a few safe symbols like hyphens and underscores
• Essential for query parameters, form data, and API requests
• Works across browsers and servers—it’s part of the HTTP standard
• Reversible: you can decode it back to the original text

FAQ

Why do I need to URL encode?
Because URLs have strict rules about what characters they can contain. If you throw in a space or a question mark where it doesn’t belong, the URL might get cut off or misinterpreted. Encoding makes sure everything gets passed correctly—especially when you’re sending user input or dynamic data.

Does URL encoding make my data secure?
Nope. Encoding is not encryption. It just changes the format so the URL works. If you’re sending passwords or sensitive info, you still need HTTPS and proper security measures. Don’t confuse encoding with protection.