Question 1

What is URL encoding?

Accepted Answer

URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces special characters with a % followed by their hexadecimal ASCII value. For example, a space becomes %20 and & becomes %26. This ensures URLs are valid across all systems.

Question 2

What is the difference between 'Encode all' and standard encoding?

Accepted Answer

Standard encoding only encodes characters that are not safe in URLs (spaces, &, =, etc.) while preserving valid URL characters like /, ?, and :. 'Encode all' also encodes those structural characters — use this when encoding a query parameter value.

Question 3

When would I decode a URL?

Accepted Answer

URLs shared in messages or logs are often percent-encoded, making them hard to read. Decoding reveals the original characters, making it easier to understand query parameters, path components, or redirects.

URL Encoder / Decoder

Text / URL to Encode

Encoded Output

Characters that must be encoded in URLs