Free URL Encoder/Decoder - %20 or + URL Encoding | ToolZen
Encode special characters in URLs for safe transmission. Choose between %20 (RFC 3986) and + (form-encoded) space encoding.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I need to encode URLs?
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters (ASCII letters, digits, and some special characters like -, _, ., ~). Special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters must be percent-encoded (e.g., space becomes %20) to ensure the URL works correctly across different systems and browsers.
2. What is percent encoding?
Percent encoding (also called URL encoding) replaces unsafe characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII value. For example: space becomes "%20", "?" becomes "%3F", and "&" becomes "%26".
3. Should I encode the full URL or individual parts?
It depends on the context. Query parameters (after the ?) and fragments (after #) typically need full encoding. However, domain names should generally NOT be encoded (e.g., "example.com" stays as is, not "example%2Ecom"). Our tool encodes the entire input string using encodeURIComponent().
4. What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI() preserves characters that are valid in a complete URI but encodes others. encodeURIComponent() encodes everything except ASCII alphanumeric characters, -, _, ., !, ~, *, ', (, ). Use encodeURIComponent() for individual parameter values, and encodeURI() for complete URLs.
Key Features
- Encode URL — Convert special characters to percent-encoded format
- Decode URL — Convert percent-encoded URLs back to readable text
- Space Encoding Options — Choose between %20 (RFC 3986) and + (form-encoded)
- Auto Encode on Input — Result updates automatically as you type
- UTF-8 Support — Correctly handles Unicode characters
- RFC 3986 — Compliant with URL encoding standards
- Copy Output — Copy encoded or decoded result with one click
How to Use URL Encoder
Step 1: Enter URL
Type or paste the URL or text you want to encode or decode.
Step 2: Choose space encoding
Select %20 for standard RFC 3986 URL encoding, or + for application/x-www-form-urlencoded format (commonly used in HTML form submissions).
Step 3: Get result
The encoded result updates automatically. Use the Copy button to save it to clipboard.
Common Use Cases
Query Parameters
Encode special characters in URL query parameters to ensure safe transmission.
Form Data (%20 vs +)
Use + mode for application/x-www-form-urlencoded encoding. HTML forms encode spaces as + instead of %20.
API Requests
Properly encode URL components in REST API requests and webhook URLs.
Why Choose ToolZen URL Encoder?
| Feature | ToolZen | Other Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 100% Client-Side | Data Sent to Server |
| Cost | Completely Free | Freemium / Paid |
| Registration | No Signup | Account Needed |
| Encoding | Encode + Decode | Encode Only |