Free tools
URL Decode
Free online URL decoder — paste any percent-encoded URL string and instantly see the decoded output.
Decoded result
URL Decode Online
Paste a percent-encoded URL string into the field above and click URL Decode to instantly see the original text. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
What Is URL Decoding?
URL decoding is the reverse of URL encoding: it converts percent-encoded sequences like %20 back into the characters they represent (in this case, a space). You'll commonly encounter encoded strings in query parameters, redirect URLs, and API responses.
Common Uses
- Reading query string values copied from a browser's address bar
- Debugging encoded URLs in server logs or API calls
- Extracting readable text from encoded redirect parameters
How to Use This Tool
- Paste your percent-encoded string into the input field.
- Click URL Decode.
- Copy the decoded result with the copy button.
If the input contains an invalid percent-encoded sequence, an error message will be shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I decode a URL?
Paste any percent-encoded string into the input field. The tool converts
%XX sequences back to their original characters and converts + signs back to spaces. The decoded text appears instantly in the output field.What is percent-encoding?
Percent-encoding (also called URL encoding) is the mechanism for encoding information in a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). It replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a
% followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's byte value. For example, %20 represents a space.Can I decode a full URL?
Yes, you can paste an entire URL with encoded query parameters. The tool will decode the percent-encoded parts while preserving the URL structure. For example,
https://example.com/search?q=hello%20world will show the decoded query parameter.What does this tool do with + signs?
The tool converts
+ signs to spaces, which is the standard behavior for application/x-www-form-urlencoded data (used in HTML forms). If you need to preserve literal + signs, they should already be encoded as %2B in properly encoded URLs.Can I decode Unicode characters?
Yes. URLs often encode UTF-8 characters as multiple percent-encoded bytes. For example, the Unicode character
é might appear as %C3%A9. This tool properly decodes these multi-byte sequences back to their original Unicode characters.Is this tool secure?
Yes. All decoding happens entirely in your browser. Your encoded data and decoded output are never sent to any server, ensuring your information stays private.