URL Encoder
Percent-encode text for safe use in URLs.
- Reading time:
- 2 min
- Last updated:
- Price:
- Free, no signup
Type or paste text to see the result.
What the URL Encoder does
Make text safe to put in a web address. Spaces become %20, '&' becomes %26, and other special characters are converted so links don't break.
It's what you need when adding a search term, an email address or a redirect link as a URL parameter.
Why the URL Encoder is useful
Unencoded characters change a link's meaning. An '&' inside a value starts a new parameter, and a '#' cuts off everything after it.
Encoding also makes non-English text like 'لاہور' or 'café' travel safely through every browser and server.
Also known as: url encoder, percent encode, free url encoder, online url encoder, url encoder online free, url encoder tool, best url encoder tool.
How to use the URL Encoder
- 1
Paste the value
Just the part going into the link, like a search phrase or address.
- 2
Copy the encoded text
Special characters appear as % codes.
- 3
Add it to the URL
Place it after the = in your query string.
Key features
- Percent-encoding for URL parameters
- UTF-8 support for all languages
- Live output
- Copy with one click
Benefits
- Links that don't break
- Correct tracking and UTM parameters
- Safe redirect URLs
Real-life use cases
Campaign link
A marketer encodes 'Summer Sale & Offers' for a utm_campaign value so the link tracks correctly.
Prefilled email link
A website encodes a subject line in a mailto: link so the spaces survive.
Tips for the best results
- Encode only the parameter value, not the whole URL.
- Don't encode twice — %20 becomes %2520.
- Use the URL Decoder to read encoded links.
Conclusion
Paste the value you're putting in a link, copy the encoded version, and your URL stays intact.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a space become %20?
- Spaces aren't allowed in URLs, so they're replaced with their character code, 20 in hexadecimal.
Should I encode the whole URL?
- No. Encode only values inside it; encoding 'https://' would break the link.
What's the difference between %20 and +?
- Both can mean a space in query strings, but %20 works everywhere in a URL.
Does it handle Urdu or Arabic text?
- Yes. Text is encoded as UTF-8 bytes, which every browser understands.
What is double encoding?
- Encoding an already-encoded value, turning %20 into %2520. Encode once only.
Which characters are left as they are?
- Letters, digits and - _ . ! ~ * ' ( ) stay unchanged.
Related tools you may need
- Base64 Encoder — Encode text to Base64 (UTF-8 safe).
- HTML Entity Encoder/Decoder — Convert text to HTML entities and back again.
- URL Decoder — Decode percent-encoded URL strings back to plain text.
- HTML Encoder — Escape HTML special characters (< > & " ').
- Morse Code Encoder — Convert text into international Morse code.
- ROT13 Encoder — Apply the classic ROT13 letter rotation.
- Morse Code Decoder — Decode Morse code back into readable text.
- Base64 Decoder — Decode Base64 back to readable UTF-8 text.
Keep exploring
Browse the full tools directory, filter by category, or read guides on the Text Tools Hub blog.