How to URL Encode and Decode (Percent-Encoding)
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, &, ?, and non-ASCII text must be percent-encoded (e.g. a space becomes %20). Kitolity encodes and decodes URL text instantly in your browser.
The tool
URL Encoder & Decoder
Step by step
- Open the URL EncoderGo to the URL Encoder & Decoder in your browser.
- Choose encode or decodePick Encode to make text URL-safe, or Decode to turn %-encoded text back.
- Paste your inputPaste the text or URL fragment to convert.
- Copy the resultCopy the output — nothing you paste ever leaves your device.
When do I need URL encoding?
Any time you put user text into a query string or path — search terms, filenames, redirect targets — you encode it so characters like &, =, ?, #, and spaces don’t break the URL’s structure. Decoding does the reverse, turning %20 back into a space so you can read it.
Encode vs. encodeURIComponent
Encoding a whole URL keeps structural characters like / and ? intact, while encoding a single component (a value you’re inserting) escapes them too. Use component-level encoding for individual query values; use it on the whole URL only when you specifically want everything escaped.
Frequently asked questions
Is my data private?
Yes — encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser, so nothing you paste is uploaded.
What does %20 mean?
It is the percent-encoded form of a space character.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up.