OpenWebDevTools

search ⌘ + K

URL Encoder — Percent-Encode URLs & Query Strings Instantly

Paste your input and get instant output

What Is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent-encoding) is the process of converting characters that are not allowed in a URL into a `%XX` format, where `XX` is the hexadecimal ASCII code of the character. This ensures that URLs are transmitted correctly over the internet.

Characters that must be encoded in URLs include:

When Do You Need URL Encoding?

  • Building query strings manually — When appending user inputs to a URL, encoding prevents injection and parsing errors.
  • API development — Query parameters containing special characters must be encoded before being passed in request URLs.
  • OAuth and redirect URIs — Redirect URL parameters in OAuth flows must be percent-encoded.
  • Web scraping and automation — When constructing URLs programmatically, encoding ensures valid requests.
  • URL Encoding vs. HTML Encoding

    Don't confuse the two. URL encoding uses `%XX` format for HTTP requests. HTML encoding uses entities like `&` and `<` for safe rendering in HTML documents. Use the right tool for the right context — we have both.