URL Decoder
Decode URL-encoded text. Converts %XX format to original characters.
Input
Output
About this tool
All data is processed locally in your browser. No information is sent to our servers.
About this tool
The URL decoder is the complementary tool to the encoder, allowing you to reverse the encoding process to recover the original text. This tool is essential when working with APIs, analyzing web server logs, or when you need to read query parameters that have been encoded. The decoding process takes the encoded string, identifies the %XX sequences (where XX is the hexadecimal value), and converts them back to their corresponding character using UTF-8. It's especially useful for decoding URL parameters, reading encoded form data, or analyzing captured network traffic. The tool processes everything locally in your browser using the native decodeURIComponent() API, ensuring that sensitive data is never sent to external servers. It's important to note that decoding can fail if the string contains invalid sequences or is malformed, in which case the tool will show a descriptive error.
Use cases
- Decode URL query parameters to read their content
- Analyze web server logs with encoded URLs
- Read form data that was encoded when submitted
- Debug issues with international characters in URLs
Frequently asked questions
- When should I use the URL decoder?
- Use the decoder when you need to read the actual content of an encoded URL, such as query parameters, form data, or any text that has been processed by encodeURIComponent.
- What happens if the URL-encoded string has errors?
- If the string contains invalid %XX sequences or is malformed, the tool will show an error indicating the problem. This can happen if the string was truncated or encoded incorrectly.
- Does the decoder handle UTF-8 characters correctly?
- Yes, this decoder uses decodeURIComponent which supports full UTF-8, so it can correctly decode international characters, emojis, and any Unicode text.
- Can I decode a full URL or just the parameters?
- You can decode both full URLs and fragments. However, note that decodeURIComponent decodes characters like / and :, which can break the structure of a full URL. For full URLs, consider using decodeURI instead.