URL Encode Special Characters
Percent-encode &, =, ?, # and / so they can sit safely inside a query value. Free online URL encoder.
Part of the free URL Encoder. Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
URL Encode Special Characters
Characters that structure a URL — &, =, ?, #, / — must be encoded when they appear as data. Otherwise the parser treats them as separators and your value is cut short.
Worked example: A value that contains separators
Text
a=1&b=2#top
Encoded
a%3D1%26b%3D2%23top
Practical tip
Encode values, then join with & and =. Never encode the finished query string as a whole if you still need those separators.
How to use this URL Encoder
- 1Use the live tool above — it runs entirely in your browser and never uploads your data.
- 2Paste the sample from the worked example, or use your own input.
- 3Copy the result, then adapt the same steps in your editor, script, or pipeline.
URL Encode Special Characters FAQs
What does %26 mean?
%26 is a percent-encoded ampersand. The decoder turns it back into &.
Do I encode # in a query value?
Yes. A raw # starts the fragment and the rest of the query never reaches the server.
More URL Encoder pages
- URL Encode Spaces to %20Turn spaces into %20 with encodeURIComponent. See the difference between %20 and +, and encode any string online.
- encodeURIComponent OnlineRun encodeURIComponent in the browser. Encode query values, JSON snippets and reserved characters exactly as JavaScript does.
- Encode Query String ParametersPercent-encode query parameter values before building a URL. Avoid broken requests caused by spaces, ampersands and Unicode.
- URL Encode UTF-8 and UnicodePercent-encode accents, non-Latin letters and emoji as UTF-8 bytes. See why café becomes caf%C3%A9.
- HTML Form URL Encoding (Spaces as +)Encode text the way HTML forms do: spaces become +, and other reserved characters become %HH. application/x-www-form-urlencoded.
- encodeURI vs encodeURIComponentSee the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent on the same URL. Learn which one belongs in query values.
- Bulk URL EncoderURL-encode many lines at once. Paste a list of values or URLs and encode each line independently.
- Encode a URL for an API RequestPercent-encode path and query values before calling an API. Avoid 400s caused by spaces, Unicode and reserved characters.
- URL Encode & and =Encode & as %26 and = as %3D so they can appear inside a single query value without breaking the string.