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What Is URL Encoding (%20) and When Do You Need It?

URLs can only contain certain characters. Spaces, &, # and non-English letters are converted to percent codes – %20 for a space – so links don’t break.

🔤Free URL Encoder / Decoder
Percent-encode or decode URLs and see their parts.Open tool →

Common codes

space %20 (or + in query strings) · & %26 · = %3D · ? %3F · # %23 · / %2F · @ %40 · é %C3%A9.

Component vs full URL

Encoding a full URL keeps : / ? & = so it still works as a link. Encoding a component (one query value) escapes everything, so a value like 'tools & more' can't break the URL. In JavaScript: encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent.

Typical bugs

Links that cut off at & or #, UTM values with spaces, and double-encoded URLs showing %2520. Decode first, then encode once.

Encode, decode and inspect

The URL Encoder / Decoder does both, and breaks any URL into protocol, host, path and query parameters.

Frequently asked questions

Is %20 the same as +?

In query strings + often means space; in paths only %20 does.

Do I need to encode emojis?

Yes – they're encoded as UTF-8 bytes.

Does Google care?

Clean, readable URLs are better; avoid unnecessary encoding in slugs.

🔤Free URL Encoder / Decoder
Percent-encode or decode URLs and see their parts.Open tool →

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