URL Decode– Decode URL-Encoded Text Online

Decode URL-encoded (percent-encoded) text instantly. Free online URL decoder.

Paste URL-encoded text to decode

Decoded Text Output

Why Use Our URL Decoder?

Instant Decoding

Decode percent-encoded text back to readable form in one click.

100% Private

All decoding happens in your browser. Data never leaves your device.

UTF-8 Support

Handles multi-byte UTF-8 sequences for international characters.

Error Handling

Clear error messages for malformed percent-encoded sequences.

One-Click Copy

Copy decoded text to clipboard instantly for immediate use.

Free Forever

No signup, no limits, no premium tiers. Decode freely.

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Complete URL Decoding Guide

URL decoding (percent-decoding) is the reverse process of URL encoding. It converts percent-encoded character sequences (%XX) back to their original characters. This is necessary to read and understand URLs that contain encoded special characters, query parameters, or international text.

When browsers send requests, special characters in URLs are automatically encoded. For example, searching for "price > 100" might produce the URL parameter q=price%20%3E%20100. Decoding this gives back the original readable text "price > 100".

URL decoding is commonly needed when inspecting server logs, debugging API requests, reading tracking URLs from analytics tools, or extracting data from encoded query strings. Without decoding, these URLs are difficult to read and interpret by humans.

Our decoder uses JavaScript's decodeURIComponent() function, which handles both standard percent-encoding and multi-byte UTF-8 sequences. It correctly decodes international characters, emojis, and all Unicode text that was properly encoded.

URL decoding scans the input string for percent-encoded sequences. Each sequence consists of a percent sign (%) followed by exactly two hexadecimal digits. The decoder converts these two hex digits to a byte value, which represents the original character or part of a multibyte character.

For ASCII characters, each percent-encoded triplet maps directly to one character. %20 (hex 20 = decimal 32) maps to a space, %21 (hex 21 = decimal 33) maps to an exclamation mark, and %40 (hex 40 = decimal 64) maps to the at sign (@).

For UTF-8 multibyte characters, multiple percent-encoded triplets are decoded together. For example, %C3%A9 represents the two UTF-8 bytes of the character "e with acute accent". The decoder recognizes that C3 starts a 2-byte UTF-8 sequence and combines both bytes to produce the correct Unicode character.

Characters that are not percent-encoded pass through unchanged. This means you can safely decode a string that contains a mix of encoded and non-encoded characters. Letters, digits, and URL-safe characters like hyphens and underscores remain as-is while only the percent-encoded portions are converted.

Reading Query Strings

Decode URL query parameters to understand search queries, filter values, and form submissions in human-readable form.

Debugging API Calls

Decode API request URLs from logs or network tools to inspect the actual parameter values being sent.

Analyzing Tracking URLs

Marketing and analytics URLs often contain deeply encoded parameters. Decode them to understand redirect chains and UTM parameters.

Server Log Analysis

Web server access logs contain URL-encoded request paths. Decode them to identify the actual pages and resources accessed.

What is URL decoding?

URL decoding (also called percent-decoding) is the process of converting percent-encoded characters in a URL back to their original form. For example, %20 is decoded to a space, %26 to &, and %3F to ?.

How do I decode a URL-encoded string online?

Paste your URL-encoded string into the input field and click the 'Decode' button. The decoded text will appear instantly in the output area.

What does %20 mean in a URL?

%20 is the URL-encoded representation of a space character. The number 20 is the hexadecimal value of the space character's ASCII code (32 in decimal).

What does %3D mean in a URL?

%3D is the URL-encoded representation of the equals sign (=). It has hexadecimal value 3D (61 in decimal). It is encoded when it appears as data rather than as a key-value separator.

What is the difference between + and %20 for spaces?

Both represent spaces in URLs, but in different contexts. %20 is the standard percent-encoding for spaces (RFC 3986). The + sign represents spaces only in application/x-www-form-urlencoded format (HTML form submissions). Our decoder handles %20.

Can I decode an entire URL?

Yes, you can paste a full URL with encoded parameters. The decoder will convert all percent-encoded sequences back to their original characters, making the URL human-readable.

Does URL decoding support Unicode?

Yes, our decoder fully supports UTF-8 encoded URLs. Multi-byte percent-encoded sequences (like %C3%A9 for an accented letter) are properly decoded back to their Unicode characters.

What happens if the encoded string is invalid?

If the input contains malformed percent-encoded sequences (like %GG or a lone %), the decoder will display an error message indicating the invalid encoding.

Is my data secure during decoding?

Yes, all decoding happens entirely in your browser. Your URL-encoded data is never sent to any server or stored anywhere.

How do I encode text for URLs?

Use our companion URL Encode tool to convert plain text into URL-safe percent-encoded format. Both tools are free and process data in your browser.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes, completely free with no signup, no limits, and no restrictions. Decode URL-encoded text as often as you need.

URL Decode Tool

Why Use Our URL Decoder?

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Complete URL Decoding Guide