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URL Encoding Explained for Query Strings and APIs
Understand URL encoding, percent encoding, query parameters, spaces, special characters, and safe decoding.
URL Encoder & Decoder
Encode or decode URL components and query values.
Why URL encoding exists
URLs can only safely contain certain characters. URL encoding converts spaces, punctuation, Unicode, and reserved characters into percent-encoded sequences.
This is especially important in query strings where characters like ampersand, equals, question mark, and spaces can change the meaning of a URL.
Common examples
A space may become %20 or plus depending on context. An ampersand inside a value should be encoded so it is not mistaken for a separator between query parameters.
APIs often expect individual parameter values to be encoded, not the entire URL at once.
Decode carefully
Decoding makes a URL easier to read, but it can also reveal hidden parameters or redirect targets. When reviewing unknown links, treat decoded values with caution.
For debugging, compare the original and decoded text so you can see exactly what changed.
FAQ
What is percent encoding?
It represents characters using percent signs followed by hexadecimal values.
Should I encode the whole URL?
Usually you encode parameter values or URL components, not an already complete URL.
Why do spaces become plus signs sometimes?
In form-style query strings, plus can represent a space. In other URL parts, %20 is more typical.
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