URL Encoding Explained: How to Encode and Decode URLs Online

What Is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) converts special characters in URLs into a format that can be transmitted safely over the internet. Characters that aren't allowed in a URL are replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits.

Why URLs Need Encoding

URLs may only contain a specific set of ASCII characters. Characters like spaces, accents, Chinese characters, and symbols like &, =, # have special meanings in URLs and must be encoded when used as data.

Common URL Encoding Examples

Character	Encoded Form	Why It Needs Encoding
Space	%20	Spaces aren't valid in URLs
&	%26	Separates query parameters
=	%3D	Separates key-value pairs
#	%23	Fragment identifier
+	%2B	Alternative for space in forms
中文	%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87	Non-ASCII characters

encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent in JavaScript

• encodeURI(url) — Encodes an entire URL, leaving structural characters (: / ? # &) intact.
• encodeURIComponent(value) — Encodes a query parameter value, encoding & = # + etc. Use this for individual parameter values.

const search = "hello world & more";
encodeURIComponent(search); // "hello%20world%20%26%20more"

How to Encode/Decode URLs Online

1. Open FavorTool URL Encoder.
2. Paste the URL or query string value.
3. Click Encode or Decode.
4. Copy the result.