Understanding URL Encoding and Decoding
TL;DR
What are those %20 signs in your browser bar? Learn about URL encoding and how to safely transmit special characters in web addresses.
Table of Contents
URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a method used to safely encode characters inside a URL (Uniform Resource Identifier). Since URLs can only contain a specific set of allowed characters, anything outside that range—such as spaces, symbols, or reserved characters—must be converted into a safe, standardized format.
This encoding ensures that browsers, servers, and APIs correctly interpret the data being sent through the URL. For example:
-
A space becomes
%20 -
An ampersand (&) becomes
%26 -
A plus sign (+) becomes
%2B
Without encoding, these characters could break the URL structure or change its meaning entirely, leading to 404 errors or broken API calls.
When Do You Need URL Encoding?
URL encoding is required whenever you're sending data through a URL—especially through GET parameters (query strings). If the data contains spaces, symbols, or special characters, it must be encoded to avoid breaking the syntax.
Real World Example
If a user searches for “C++ Tools”, the raw text contains spaces and plus signs. Sending this directly would confuse the server.
This ensures the server receives the exact search query "C++ Tools" without interpreting the "+" as a space or the space as a break.
Try Our URL Encoder & Decoder
Struggling with a complicated URL parameters? Need to check how encoded characters translate back to readable text?
Use our free URL Encoder & Decoder to:
- Instantly encode unsafe characters into proper URL-safe format.
- Decode percent-encoded URLs back into human-readable text.
- Debug GET parameters and complex query strings effortlessly.
Whether you're a developer dealing with APIs, an SEO specialist optimizing slugs, or just someone debugging a broken link, this tool helps you handle URLs quickly and safely.
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