Building links
Put a search term or message safely into a link's query string.
URL Encode and Decode
Make text safe for a URL, or read an encoded link. Processed locally.
Your files stay with you. Your files never leave your browser. This tool runs on your device: nothing is uploaded to our servers, so there is nothing for us to store or see.
How to use it
- Paste your text or URL.
- Choose Encode or Decode and the style.
- Copy or download the result.
Where it helps
WhatsApp links
Encode a pre-filled message for a wa.me click-to-chat link.
Reading links
Decode a long tracking or redirect URL to see where it goes.
Good to know
Stays in your browser
Your text is processed on your device and never sent to our servers.
Encode values, not URLs
Encode each parameter value, then join them.
Watch the % sign
A stray % must be written %25.
Questions people ask
How do you URL-encode or decode text?
Paste your text or URL, choose Encode or Decode and pick a style. 'Value or parameter' encodes a single piece such as a search term, including / ? & = and :. 'Whole URL' keeps an address working while escaping spaces and accents. 'Form data' writes spaces as +. Text is written as UTF-8, so Indian scripts work.
- 3 Styles. Value, URL, form.
- %20 Space. Or + in forms.
- UTF-8 Any script. Hindi, accents, ₹.
- %25 A literal %. For '50% off'.
Which style should I choose?
Use 'Value or parameter' to encode a single piece, such as a search term or a message, because it also encodes / ? & = and :. Use 'Whole URL' to keep an existing address working while escaping spaces and accents. Use 'Form data' when a form or API wants spaces written as +.
Why does decoding fail with a % sign error?
A % in a URL must be followed by two hex digits, like %20 for a space. A stray % on its own, as in '50% off', has to be written %25 in a URL. Fix that character, or encode the original text again, and decoding will then work normally.
Are accents and Indian scripts supported?
Yes. Characters are written as UTF-8 bytes, so é becomes %C3%A9 and each Hindi or Tamil letter becomes a few percent-encoded bytes. Decoding turns them back into the original text exactly. Browsers often show the readable version in the address bar, but send the encoded form.
Is my text uploaded?
No. Encoding and decoding happen in your browser, and nothing reaches our servers or is saved after you close the page. That's useful for links containing customer names, phone numbers or internal addresses that you shouldn't paste into an unknown website. Close the tab when you're done and nothing remains.
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding, also called percent-encoding, replaces characters that aren't allowed or have special meaning in a URL with a % and two hex digits. A space becomes %20 and & becomes %26. It keeps addresses and query strings from being read the wrong way. Browsers do it automatically when you type an address.
Why is a space sometimes + and sometimes %20?
In query strings sent by HTML forms, a space is traditionally written as +. Everywhere else in a URL it's %20. Most servers accept both in query strings, but only %20 is correct in the path. Choose 'Form data' when you need the + style. Decoding reads both forms.
How do I encode a WhatsApp message for a link?
Choose Encode and 'Value or parameter', paste the message and add the result after ?text= in a wa.me link. Line breaks become %0A. The WhatsApp link generator does all of this for you and adds the phone number in the right format. Test the link on your phone first.
Should I encode a whole URL or just the parameters?
Encode each parameter value separately, then join them with & and =. Encoding a whole URL with the value style would also escape the :// and / characters and break the link. Use the 'Whole URL' style only to tidy an address that has spaces or accents. Most code libraries can do this for you.
How do I read a long tracking link?
Paste it and choose Decode. Encoded parts such as %3A and %2F turn back into : and /, so you can see the real destination and the UTM or tracking parameters. It's a good habit before clicking a link from an unknown message or email. Redirect links often hide the real address in a parameter.
What characters need encoding?
Spaces, quotes, < and >, #, %, and non-English letters always need encoding. Characters like / ? & = and : have special meaning, so they need encoding inside a parameter value but not in the URL structure. Letters, digits and - _ . ~ never need it. When in doubt, encode the whole parameter value with the value style, which is always safe.
Why is my link broken after pasting it in an email?
Spaces or line breaks in a URL can make email apps cut the link short. Encode spaces as %20 and check the link has no line breaks. Shorter links with fewer parameters are also less likely to break when people copy and forward them. Test the link after sending.
Can I encode UTM parameters?
Yes, encode each value, such as a campaign name with spaces, before adding it to the link. The UTM builder does this automatically and builds the full tracking URL. Keep UTM values short and lowercase so reports in Google Analytics stay tidy. Use hyphens instead of spaces.
Does decoding change a + into a space?
In the 'Form data' style, yes, because that's what + means in form-encoded text. In the other styles, a + is kept as a plus sign. Pick the style that matches where the text came from, or the decoded result may show + where a space was meant.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Paste a link or text on your phone, choose the style and copy the result. It's handy for checking a suspicious link in a message before opening it, or building a WhatsApp or campaign link on the go. It works in any mobile browser.
Is the URL encoder free?
Yes. It's free with no sign-up and no limit on use. It's one of the free developer tools from Marketiism, alongside the Base64 tool, the WhatsApp link generator and the UTM builder. Marketiism builds software for small businesses. Use it as often as you need, for any project.
Want this inside your own account?
Marketiism keeps your invoice numbers, GST reports, UPI payment links and WhatsApp reminders in one place. Leave your details and we'll call to set it up for your business, or start the trial yourself.
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