Guide1 min readUpdated July 1, 2026

How to URL encode a string

Short answer

Paste the text into a URL encoder and it replaces unsafe characters with %XX escapes — for example a space becomes %20. Encode individual values (not the whole URL) so delimiters like ? and & are not escaped by mistake.

What URL encoding does

A URL may only contain a limited set of characters. URL (percent) encoding replaces anything unsafe or reserved with a % followed by its hex byte value, so the data survives inside a link. See what is URL encoding for the background.

URL encode a value

Paste the textEnter the value you want to place in a URL.
Copy the encoded outputUnsafe characters become %XX escapes; safe ones stay as-is.
Drop it into the URLUse it as a query value or a path segment.

name = John & Jane   ->   name=John%20%26%20Jane

Encoding a query value

Try it: URL Encoder/DecoderEncode and decode URL text locally — nothing is uploaded.Open tool

Encode the value, not the whole URLEncoding an entire URL escapes its own : / ? and &, which breaks it. Encode each parameter value separately so the structural delimiters stay intact.

The space rule

A space becomes %20 in a path. In query strings it is often written as + instead, a legacy of HTML form encoding. When in doubt, %20 works in both places. For the full escape table, see the URL encoding reference.

References

Questions

What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?

encodeURI keeps URL structure characters (like / ? &) intact and is meant for a whole URL. encodeURIComponent encodes them too and is meant for a single value you are inserting into a URL. Use encodeURIComponent for parameter values.

Why does a space become %20 or +?

Spaces are not allowed in URLs. In the path they are encoded as %20. In query strings the older form-encoding convention writes them as +, so decoders must know the context.

Does this encoder upload my text?

No. Encoding and decoding happen entirely in your browser tab. Nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.

Keep reading

Explainer1 min readWhat is URL encoding (percent-encoding)?URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign and a hex code so they can travel safely inside a URL. Here is how and when it happens.Read

Explainer1 min readThe anatomy of a URLEvery URL is made of parts: scheme, host, port, path, query, and fragment. Here is what each piece does, with a labelled example.Read

Guide1 min readHow to build a query stringA query string passes parameters in a URL. Here is how to format key/value pairs, encode values, and handle repeated keys correctly.Read