Use before
Option A
Sharing or nesting URLs
Option B
Reviewing URLs
FAQ Guide
URL Encode vs Decode
Encode before sending special characters through a URL; decode when you need to inspect what a generated link really contains.
Quick comparison
Helps with
Option A
Valid links
Option B
Human inspection
Risk
Option A
Double encoding
Option B
Misreading unsafe links
Questions and answers
What breaks without URL encoding?
Spaces, ampersands, percent signs, and non-English text can break or change query parameters.
What is double encoding?
It happens when an already encoded value is encoded again, often producing confusing percent sequences.
When should marketers decode URLs?
Decode before reviewing campaign links, redirect chains, and tracked destination URLs.