How URL Encoding and Decoding Works and When to Use It
Encode and decode URL components. When developers use URL encoding for query strings and API parameters.
How it works
URL encoding (percent-encoding) replaces reserved and non-ASCII characters with a percent sign followed by two hex digits (e.g. space → %20). Encoding applies to the full string so it is safe for query values or path segments. Decoding reverses the process and turns a percent-encoded string back into the original text, including handling plus signs as spaces where appropriate.
When developers use it
Developers use it when building query strings or path segments that contain spaces, Unicode, or special characters; debugging redirect or API URLs; or decoding values received from forms or links. Proper encoding prevents broken links and injection issues; decoding is needed to display or process stored URLs correctly.