URL Encode– URL Encode Text Online

URL encode text and special characters instantly. Free online URL encoder.

Enter text to URL encode

URL Encoded Output

Why Use Our URL Encoder?

Instant Encoding

Encode text for URLs in one click with full Unicode support.

100% Private

All encoding happens in your browser. Data never leaves your device.

RFC Compliant

Uses encodeURIComponent per RFC 3986 for standards-compliant output.

All Characters

Handles spaces, ampersands, equals, quotes, and Unicode characters.

One-Click Copy

Copy URL-encoded string to clipboard instantly for immediate use.

Free Forever

No signup, no limits, no premium tiers. Encode freely.

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Complete URL Encoding Guide

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a mechanism defined in RFC 3986 for encoding special characters in Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). Characters that are not allowed in URLs or that have special meaning (like &, =, ?, #) are replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by their two-digit hexadecimal ASCII code.

For example, a space character (ASCII 32) becomes %20, an ampersand (ASCII 38) becomes %26, and a question mark (ASCII 63) becomes %3F. This ensures that these characters are treated as literal data rather than URL delimiters when they appear in query parameter values or path segments.

URL encoding is essential for web development. Without it, a query parameter value containing an ampersand would be misinterpreted as a parameter separator, and a value containing a question mark would be confused with the query string delimiter. Proper encoding ensures data integrity in URL transmission.

Our tool uses JavaScript's encodeURIComponent() function, which encodes all characters except unreserved characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, -, _, ., ~). This is the correct function for encoding query parameter values and other URL components.

The URL encoding process examines each character in the input string. Unreserved characters (letters, digits, hyphen, underscore, period, tilde) pass through unchanged because they are safe to use directly in URLs. All other characters, including spaces, punctuation, and Unicode characters, are encoded.

For ASCII characters (codes 0-127), the encoding is straightforward: the character's ASCII code is converted to a two-digit hexadecimal value prefixed with %. For example, space (code 32) becomes %20, exclamation mark (code 33) becomes %21, and the at sign (code 64) becomes %40.

For non-ASCII characters (Unicode), the character is first converted to its UTF-8 byte sequence, then each byte is individually percent-encoded. For instance, the copyright symbol is two UTF-8 bytes (0xC2 0xA9), encoded as %C2%A9. CJK characters use three UTF-8 bytes each, producing three percent-encoded triplets.

The JavaScript function encodeURIComponent() handles this entire process automatically, including UTF-8 conversion for non-ASCII characters. It encodes everything except A-Z a-z 0-9 - _ . ~, which is the complete set of unreserved characters per RFC 3986.

Query Parameters

Encode values in URL query strings to prevent special characters from breaking the URL structure.

Form Submissions

HTML forms with GET method encode user input as URL parameters. Understanding encoding helps debug form data.

API Requests

REST APIs require proper URL encoding of parameter values, especially when passing search queries or user-generated content.

Redirect URLs

When passing a URL as a parameter to another URL (e.g., redirect_uri), the inner URL must be fully encoded.

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) is the process of converting special characters in a URL into a format that can be safely transmitted. Characters that are not valid in URLs are replaced with a '%' followed by their two-digit hexadecimal ASCII value.

How do I URL encode text online?

Paste your text into the input field and click the 'Encode' button. Special characters will be converted to their percent-encoded equivalents instantly. You can then copy the result.

Which characters need URL encoding?

Characters that must be encoded include spaces (becomes %20 or +), ampersand (&, becomes %26), equals sign (=, becomes %3D), question mark (?, becomes %3F), and any non-ASCII characters like accented letters or emojis.

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI encodes a full URI but preserves characters with special meaning in URLs (like /, ?, #, &, =). encodeURIComponent encodes everything except unreserved characters, making it suitable for encoding individual query parameter values. Our tool uses encodeURIComponent.

Why are spaces encoded as %20?

The %20 encoding for spaces comes from the percent-encoding standard (RFC 3986). In some contexts (like HTML form submissions), spaces may also be represented as '+'. Our tool uses %20 via encodeURIComponent, which is universally safe.

Is URL encoding the same as HTML encoding?

No, they are different. URL encoding converts characters for safe use in URLs using percent notation (%XX). HTML encoding converts characters for safe display in HTML using entities (&, <, etc.). Use the appropriate encoding for each context.

Does URL encoding support Unicode?

Yes, our encoder supports full Unicode text. Non-ASCII characters are first converted to their UTF-8 byte representation, then each byte is percent-encoded. For example, an accented character may produce multiple %XX sequences.

Is my data secure?

Yes, all encoding is performed in your browser using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device or gets transmitted to any server.

When should I use URL encoding?

Use URL encoding when passing data as URL query parameters, building dynamic URLs with user input, encoding form data, or any time you need to include special characters in a URL.

How do I decode URL-encoded text?

Use our companion URL Decode tool to convert percent-encoded text back to its original form. Both tools are free and process data in your browser.

Can I encode an entire URL?

You should encode individual components (like query parameter values) rather than an entire URL. Encoding a complete URL would also encode the protocol, slashes, and other structural characters, making it unusable.

Is this tool free?

Yes, completely free with no signup, no limits, and no restrictions. URL encode as much text as you need.

URL Encode Tool

Why Use Our URL Encoder?

Other Encoding Tools

Complete URL Encoding Guide