Is URL Encoder / Decoder free?

Yes. Every VersaTools tool is completely free — no account, no watermark, and no sign-up required.

Is my text sent to a server?

No. Encoding and decoding run entirely in your browser using its built-in URI functions, so your text never leaves your device.

What's the difference between Component and Whole URL?

Component (encodeURIComponent) escapes reserved characters such as & = ? and /, which is what you want for a single query value or path piece. Whole URL (encodeURI) leaves those structural characters alone so a complete URL stays usable.

Why does decoding sometimes show an error?

Percent-decoding fails when the text contains a lone % or an incomplete escape like %2 instead of %20. The error message points you to the malformed sequence to fix.

Does it handle spaces and Unicode correctly?

Yes. Spaces become %20 and Unicode characters are encoded as their UTF-8 byte sequences, so international text round-trips correctly when you decode it again.

URL Encoder / Decoder

Developer Utilities

Percent-encode text for URLs or decode it back.

Options

Mode

Scope

Text input

Encoded output

0 characters in · 0 characters out. Processed entirely in your browser.

Tool Overview & Guide

What is URL Encoder / Decoder?

URL Encoder / Decoder percent-encodes text so it can travel safely inside a URL, and decodes percent-encoded text back to plain readable form. Switch between Encode and Decode with one click, and choose Component to escape a single query value or path segment, or Whole URL to encode a full address while leaving structural characters like : / ? & intact. Malformed input shows a friendly error instead of crashing. Everything runs in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.

Technical Specifications & Supported Formats

Processing Engine:Client-side Native JavaScript & WebAssembly

Privacy & Security:100% In-Browser (Zero File Upload)

Supported Formats:All Standard Formats & Code Text

Max File Limit:100 MB

How to use URL Encoder / Decoder

3 simple steps to complete your task directly in your browser:

Pick Encode or Decode
Choose Encode to turn text into percent-encoded form, or Decode to turn it back. The labels update so you always know which side you're on.
Choose the scope
Component uses encodeURIComponent, escaping reserved characters like & = ? / — ideal for a single query parameter or path piece. Whole URL uses encodeURI, which preserves the characters that give a URL its structure.
Enter your text
Type or paste into the input box, or use Load file to open a .txt file. The result updates live as you type.

Common uses

Encode a query parameter value that contains spaces, & or = signs
Decode a percent-encoded URL to read what it actually points to
Build safe links with names, search terms, or filters in the query string
Escape a path segment that includes special characters
Encode an entire URL while keeping its scheme, host, and separators intact
Inspect redirect or tracking URLs by decoding their nested parameters

Why choose VersaTools

100% private

Your files are processed inside your browser and are never uploaded to a server.

Free, no account

No sign-up, no watermark, no paywalled “premium” tier. Just open a tool and use it.

Instant

No upload, no queue, no server round-trip — work starts the moment you drop a file.

Runs in your browser

Built on open web standards. Works on any modern desktop browser, nothing to install.

No upload size caps

Nothing leaves your device, so there’s no server file-size limit — only your machine’s memory.

Yours to keep

Results download straight to your device in clean, standard file formats.