How to Encode a URL

Quick guide · 2 min read

Quick Answer

URL encoding converts special characters into %XX format so they can be safely transmitted. Use a URL encoder to encode URLs and query parameters instantly.

URL Encoder/Decoder

Encode URLs and parameters instantly

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Common Use Cases

  • Query parameters - Special characters in URLs need encoding
  • API calls - URLs with spaces or special characters must be encoded
  • Form submissions - Browser automatically encodes form data
  • Redirect URLs - URLs passed as parameters need double encoding

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Enter your URL or text - Paste the URL or parameter value in the URL Encoder
  2. Click Encode - The tool converts special characters to %XX format
  3. Copy the encoded URL - Use the encoded URL in your application or API call

Example

Input:

https://example.com/search?q=hello world&lang=en

Output:

https://example.com/search?q=hello%20world&lang=en

Frequently Asked Questions

What characters need to be URL encoded? ▼
Characters like spaces, quotes, <,>, #, %, {, }, |, \, ^, ~, [, ], `, and non-ASCII characters need encoding. Safe characters include A-Z, a-z, 0-9, hyphen, underscore, period, and tilde.
What is percent encoding? ▼
Percent encoding (URL encoding) replaces unsafe characters with a % followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20, and a double quote becomes %22.
What's the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent? ▼
encodeURI encodes a full URL but keeps protocol (://) and domain separators. encodeURIComponent encodes everything, including / and ?, making it suitable for query parameter values.
Do I need to encode URLs in browser address bar? ▼
Modern browsers automatically encode URLs when you type them. However, when building URLs programmatically or sending API requests, you must encode them yourself.