URL Encode and Decode Generator Tool

What is URL encoding?

URL encoding refers to taking simple text strings and converting them into URL format. URL format means the encoded text only contains alpha, digit, safe, extra and escape characters. In short, this means the text won't contain characters such as spaces, # or / symbols. There is no need to go into detail about this here but if you want to learn more about URL format visit World Wide Web Consortium.

When and why would you use URL encoding?

URL encoding is often used within website forms to enable efficient passing of textual information. For example, a webmaster may have a blog form on his website so visitors can type in their comments and have them displayed on the page. If these comments were to contain special characters such as a # symbol, the blog form may not transfer that specific information correctly due to symbols having different meanings. For instance the person filling in the form may be talking about C++ programming and might say something like:

"#includes are needed at the start of each c++ file".

However the form script could take it that the # symbol is refering to a webpage anchor instead of displaying it as simple text.

URL Encode Generator Tool - Makes any text into URL format.

Use the online tool below to either encode or decode a string of text. Where it says 'Character encoding' you can use the drop down list to choose either ASCII or UTF-8. ASCII refers to characters shown on our ASCII Table If you choose ASCII encoding and your text contains non-ASCII characters, a warning message will let you know. Then you simply need to try again using UTF-8.

If you find this generator useful please:

Real example of how you would use the URL encoding generator above to promote your website with Digg:

Digg is a social content website which means every webpage displayed on the service has been recommended by its members. Webmasters can place digg buttons on their webpages so visitors can digg (recommend) their site. The more diggs a website gets, the more chance of them being seen on the main directory pages.

Diggs are made by linking text or images to this url:

How to link a digg button.

You need to change where it says: www.storyurl.com
to the address of your own website. But firstly you need to URL encode it by typing your address into the generator above then press Encode button. It is then with the URL encoded text that you replace www.storyurl.com

Next step is to URL encode a title for your website to replace where it says: YourStoryTitle
Maximum length for titles is 75 characters.

Thirdly do the same for where it says: YourStoryDescription.
Maximum length for story descriptions is 350 characters.

Lastly, you need to change where it says YourSelectedTopic to one of the topics listed at:
http://www.digg.com/tools/integrate
Note: there is no need to URL encode the topic because there are no special characters or spaces in their names.