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URL Encoder / Decoder Online Free — PrivaTools

TL;DR: Encode or decode URLs (percent-encoding) instantly in your browser — perfect for query parameters and form data.

Encode or decode URLs online for free — percent-encode strings for use in query parameters, or decode %20/%26/etc back to readable text. Runs entirely in your browser. For JWT decoding, use the dedicated JWT Decoder.

URL Encoder / Decoder is one of 179+ free file utilities on PrivaTools. The entire stack is open source under the MIT license, so the privacy guarantees can be audited end-to-end. You can also run all 179 tools on your own infrastructure with one docker compose command.

How to Use URL Encoder / Decoder

  1. Paste a string, URL, or JWT — Auto-detects the input type.
  2. Choose encode or decode — URL encode: spaces → %20, etc. URL decode: %20 → spaces. JWT decode: header.payload.signature → parsed JSON.
  3. Copy the result — Runs entirely in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between URL encoding and base64?

URL encoding only escapes characters that have special meaning in URLs. Base64 encodes any binary as ASCII (longer but binary-safe). Use Base64 for arbitrary data.

Why decode a JWT here?

All in your browser — never paste a real production JWT into a server-side decoder. The standalone JWT Decoder tool shows expiry and claim details too.

Will the encoded URL be browser-safe?

Yes — outputs only ASCII-safe chars (alphanumeric + - _ . ~ % escapes).

Last reviewed 2026-05-01 by the PrivaTools maintainers. Source code on (MIT-licensed, self-hostable).

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