Encoder / Decoder
The all-in-one encoding tool. Encode and decode URLs, Base64 strings, and HTML entities instantly.
Encoder / Decoder
Encode/Decode URL, Base64 and HTML entities.
Essential Tools for Web Development
In the world of web development, data rarely stays in one format. It travels through URLs, gets embedded in HTML, or is transmitted as JSON. To ensure this data arrives intact and is interpreted correctly, we use encoding.
Our Encoder/Decoder tool brings together the three most critical encoding standards into one simple interface, saving you from searching for separate tools or writing one-off scripts.
Supported Encoding Formats
🔗 URL Encoding (Percent-Encoding)
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters (ASCII). Any other character (like spaces, emojis, or special symbols) must be encoded to be valid.
Hello World!
Hello%20World%21
Use case: Passing query parameters in links (e.g., ?search=hello%20world).
📦 Base64 Encoding
Base64 converts binary data (like images or files) into a safe text string. It increases the size by ~33% but ensures the data can travel through systems that only handle text (like email or JSON).
Hello
SGVsbG8=
Use case: Embedding small images directly in CSS/HTML (Data URIs), sending file attachments in APIs.
HTML Entities
HTML uses characters like <, >, and & for its syntax. To display these characters
as text on a webpage without breaking the layout, they must be "escaped" into entities.
<div>
<div>
Use case: Displaying code snippets on a blog, preventing XSS attacks.
Encoding vs. Encryption: A Critical Distinction
⚠️ Never use encoding for security!
Encoding is not encryption. Encoded data is publicly readable by anyone who knows the format.
- Encoding: Purpose is usability. It transforms data so it can be properly consumed by a different system. No key is required to reverse it.
- Encryption: Purpose is secrecy. It transforms data so it cannot be read without a specific secret key.
- Hashing: Purpose is integrity. It transforms data into a unique string that cannot be reversed (one-way).
Why Client-Side Processing Matters
When you use our Encoder/Decoder, the transformation happens entirely within your browser using JavaScript.
This is crucial for security. Developers often need to decode sensitive strings like API tokens, session IDs, or configuration data to debug issues. If you paste these into a server-side tool, you are potentially exposing secrets to a third party. With our client-side tool, your data never leaves your machine, ensuring your secrets stay secret.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL Encoding? ▼
URL Encoding (or percent-encoding) is a mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). Characters that are not allowed in a URL (like spaces) or have special meaning (like ?, &, /) are translated into a safe format using a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes %20.
What is Base64 used for? ▼
Base64 is primarily used to transmit binary data (like images, PDFs, or audio) over channels that are designed to handle only text (like email or XML/JSON). It ensures that the data remains intact without modification during transport. It's also used to embed small assets directly into web pages to reduce HTTP requests.
Why do I see in my HTML? ▼
That is an HTML entity! stands for "Non-Breaking Space". It tells the browser to display a space
but prevents it from breaking the line at that point. It's one of hundreds of entities used to display special characters
and symbols in web pages.
Can I decode a password with this? ▼
If the password was merely encoded (e.g., in Base64), yes. But if it was hashed (like MD5, SHA-256) or encrypted, then no. Encoding is reversible; hashing and strong encryption are not (without the key). This tool only handles reversible encoding formats.
Is there a limit to the text length? ▼
Practically, no. Since it runs in your browser, you can encode/decode strings as long as your browser's memory allows. You can easily process megabytes of text or large Base64 strings representing images without issues.