How to URL Encode and Decode Strings Online (Free Tool)

How to URL Encode and Decode Strings Online

Have you ever copied a URL and noticed it contained strange characters like %20, %2F, or %3D? Or tried to pass text through a URL and had it break because of spaces or special characters? This is where URL encoding comes in.

The free URL Encoder / Decoder on cleverly.tools lets you encode or decode any string instantly — no code, no sign-up, no technical knowledge required. Paste your text, click one button, and get the result.

---

What Is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent encoding) converts characters that are not safe to include in a URL into a format that can be transmitted reliably over the web.

Web addresses (URLs) can only contain a limited set of characters — letters, numbers, and a few symbols. When your URL needs to include something else — like a space, an ampersand, or a non-English character — those characters need to be encoded.

Examples of Encoded Characters

| Original Character | URL Encoded | |---|---| | Space | %20 | | & | %26 | | = | %3D | | / | %2F | | ? | %3F | | # | %23 | | @ | %40 | | + | %2B | | Arabic/Hebrew letters | %D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AD%D8%A8%D8%A7 |

Each encoded character starts with a percent sign % followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII or UTF-8 code. That is why it is called "percent encoding."

---

When Do You Need URL Encoding?

Building URLs with Query Parameters

If you have a search URL like: ` https://example.com/search?q=coffee shop near me `

The space will break the URL. The correctly encoded version is: ` https://example.com/search?q=coffee%20shop%20near%20me `

Passing Special Characters in Forms

HTML forms encode data automatically when submitted, but if you are building URLs manually in code or scripts, you need to encode them yourself.

Working with APIs

When calling an API with parameters that include special characters, email addresses, or non-English text, URL encoding ensures the parameters reach the server intact.

Fixing Broken Links

If a URL with special characters stops working, decoding it can reveal what went wrong — and encoding it properly fixes the issue.

---

How to URL Encode or Decode a String

Step 1: Open the Tool

Go to the URL Encoder / Decoder on cleverly.tools. No account needed.

Step 2: Paste Your Text

• To encode: paste your plain text (with spaces, special characters, etc.) into the input field

• To decode: paste the URL-encoded string (with %20, %3D, etc.) into the input field

Step 3: Choose Encode or Decode

Click either "Encode" or "Decode" depending on what you need.

Step 4: Copy the Result

The result appears instantly. Click "Copy" to save it to your clipboard.

---

URL Encoding vs HTML Encoding — What Is the Difference?

| Feature | URL Encoding | HTML Encoding | |---|---|---| | Purpose | Safe transmission in URLs | Safe display in HTML pages | | Space becomes | %20 or + | (kept as space) | | & becomes | %26 | & | | < becomes | %3C | < | | Used in | URLs, query strings, API calls | HTML content, attributes |

Both are forms of encoding, but they serve different purposes and use different syntax. The URL Encoder / Decoder handles URL encoding specifically.

---

Common URL Encoding Mistakes

• Encoding the entire URL: Only the parameter values (and sometimes parameter names) should be encoded — not the protocol (https://) or domain (example.com). Encoding the full URL breaks it.

• Confusing %20 and +: Both represent a space in URLs, but %20 is the correct form for paths and query values. + for spaces is only valid in query strings in some older systems.

• Double encoding: Encoding something that is already encoded turns %20 into %2520. Always decode first to check before encoding again.

• Forgetting non-ASCII characters: Emoji, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, and other non-ASCII characters all need encoding.

---

Practical Examples

Example 1: Encoding an email address in a URL

Example 2: Encoding a search query

Example 3: Decoding a confusing URL

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the URL Encoder / Decoder free to use? A: Yes. The URL Encoder / Decoder on cleverly.tools is completely free with no sign-up and no usage limits.

Q: What is the difference between URL encoding and Base64 encoding? A: URL encoding converts special characters to %XX format for safe use in web addresses. Base64 encoding converts binary data (like images or files) to text. They solve different problems and are not interchangeable.

Q: Why does my URL have %20 in it instead of a space? A: %20 is the URL-encoded version of a space. Browsers and servers automatically encode spaces in URLs to avoid ambiguity. You can use the decoder tool to convert it back to a readable space for display purposes.

Q: Can I URL encode an entire website address? A: You should only encode the parameter values inside a URL, not the entire address. Encoding the full URL — including the https:// and domain — will break it. If you need to pass a full URL as a query parameter, encode it as the value only.