About the Handiwork URL Encoder / Decoder
The URL Encoder safely percent-encodes and decodes URLs and their components with live results. Choose encode or decode, then pick whether you are working with a single component or a full URL — output updates instantly as you type, with a hint explaining the difference between the two scopes.
How to use the Handiwork URL Encoder / Decoder
- Choose Encode or Decode, then Component or Full URL.
- Paste your text or URL — results appear instantly.
- Copy the encoded or decoded output, or swap direction to reverse the conversion.
What is URL (percent) encoding?
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, so spaces, accented letters, and symbols like & and ? must be replaced with percent-encoded equivalents (a space becomes %20). This keeps links and query strings from breaking when they contain reserved or unsafe characters.
Full URL vs. component encoding
Encoding a full URL preserves structural characters like ://, /, and ? so the link still works. Encoding a single component (such as a query value) escapes those characters too, which is what you want when inserting user input into a query string. The tool explains which scope is active and shows context-aware examples in the input placeholder.
Frequently asked questions
When should I encode a URL component instead of the full URL?
Use Component mode when inserting a value (like a search term) into a query string, so characters such as & and = do not break the URL structure. Use Full URL mode when you need to encode an entire link while keeping ://, /, and ? intact.
Why does a space turn into %20 or +?
Spaces are not allowed in URLs. In paths they are encoded as %20, while in some query strings they may appear as +. This tool encodes them safely for you.
Do my inputs reset when I switch modes?
Yes. Switching between encode/decode or component/full URL clears the input so each mode starts fresh.