URL Shortener & Expander

Shorten URL

Expand URL

How URL encoding keeps data intact

URLs transport data through limited character sets. Reserved characters such as &, ?, or spaces can break query strings unless they are percent-encoded. Encoding converts them into safe byte sequences so servers can reconstruct the original text.

Reserved characters

  • ? separates the path from the query string.
  • & divides query parameters.
  • # introduces the fragment that browsers treat as client-side state.
  • Spaces become %20 or + depending on context.

When to encode

  • Always encode values placed in query strings or form data.
  • Encode path segments when they contain spaces or Unicode characters.
  • Signed URLs (S3, CDN) require deterministic encoding and parameter order.
  • Never double-encode; decode first if you suspect layered encoding.

Security tips for shortened links

Short URLs are convenient, but they can conceal malicious destinations. Follow these guidelines before sharing or opening shortened links.

Preview expansions

Use the expander to reveal the final URL. Avoid services that redirect to IP addresses or mismatch the expected domain.

Prefer HTTPS

Forward to HTTPS destinations to protect users from downgrade attacks. Many shorteners can auto-upgrade insecure links.

Monitor analytics

If you use branded shorteners, review click logs for suspicious spikes. Revoke links that exceed expected traffic.

Quick question

Do you mostly need to encode full URLs or individual query parameter values?

JavaScript (URL API)

const url = new URL('https://example.com/callback?code=abc123&state=xyz');
console.log(url.searchParams.get('code'));
console.log(encodeURIComponent('email@example.com'));

Python (urllib)

from urllib.parse import urlencode, urlparse, parse_qs

params = {'code': 'abc123', 'state': 'xyz'}
query = urlencode(params)
print(query)  # code=abc123&state=xyz

parsed = urlparse('https://example.com/callback?code=abc123&state=xyz')
print(parse_qs(parsed.query))

URL tool FAQ

What does URL encoding do?

URL encoding replaces reserved characters with percent-encoded bytes so data stays intact when transmitted through query strings, form submissions, or HTTP headers.

How can I safely shorten URLs?

Choose reputable providers, preview expansions, and prefer HTTPS targets. Never share shortened links you have not vetted.

How do I analyze query parameters?

Paste the URL to split protocol, host, path, and parameters. The tool highlights each key/value pair so you can debug OAuth callbacks or API webhooks.

Does this tool send URLs to a server?

No. HashyTools performs all encoding and decoding locally, so sensitive callback URLs, tokens, and credentials stay on your device.

How can I detect malicious shortened URLs?

Expand the link to inspect the final domain, check for HTTPS, and avoid redirect chains that hop across unfamiliar hosts or IP addresses.