Free URL Encoder Online Tool - Encode URLs Instantly
Use our free URL encoder online to instantly convert any URL or text string into a safely percent-encoded format. Special characters like spaces, ampersands, slashes, and non-ASCII symbols are replaced with their %XX equivalents, making your URLs safe to use in browsers, APIs, query strings, and HTTP requests.
URL encoding is also known as percent-encoding. It is required whenever you need to pass special characters inside a URL without breaking its structure. For example, a space becomes %20, a & becomes %26, and a / becomes %2F. Our encode URI online tool applies the same rules used by encodeURIComponent() in JavaScript, making it ideal for encoding individual query parameters and URI components.
To encode a URL online, simply paste your text or URL into the input box above and click the Encode button. The percent-encoded output will appear instantly in the result box, ready to copy and use. No registration, no downloads, and no usage limits.
Need to go the other way? Use our URL Decoder Online tool to convert any percent-encoded string back into readable text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL encoding?
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is the process of converting special characters in a URL into a safe format for transmission over the internet. Characters like spaces, ampersands, and slashes are replaced with a % followed by their two-digit hexadecimal value. For example, a space becomes %20 and & becomes %26.
How do I encode a URL online?
To encode a URL online, paste your text or URL into the input box at the top of this page and click the Encode button. The percent-encoded output will appear instantly in the result box. No registration, login, or installation is required.
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI() encodes a complete URL and leaves characters like /, ?, #, and & unencoded because they have structural meaning in a URL. encodeURIComponent() encodes individual URI components such as query parameter values, and it encodes those structural characters as well. Use encodeURIComponent() when encoding a single query parameter value, and encodeURI() when encoding a full URL. Our encode URI component online tool applies percent-encoding compatible with encodeURIComponent().
What characters get encoded in a URL?
Characters that are not allowed in URLs or have special structural meaning are percent-encoded. These include spaces (%20), ampersands (%26), equals signs (%3D), plus signs (%2B), slashes (%2F), question marks (%3F), and non-ASCII characters. Letters, digits, hyphens, underscores, periods, and tildes are left unencoded as they are safe in all URL contexts.
Is this URL encoder tool free?
Yes, our URL encoder online tool is completely free to use with no usage limits. There is no registration, no login, and no download required. You can encode as many URLs or text strings as you need at any time.