URL Decoder
Decode percent-encoded URLs and query strings back to readable text — free, instant, browser-based.
Encoding mode
Encoded Input
How to URL decode a string
- Choose your encoding mode — use encodeURIComponent for query parameter values, encodeURI for full URLs.
- Paste your percent-encoded URL or query string into the input.
- Click Decode URL to process.
- Copy the result to use in your code or browser.
When to URL decode
URL decoding is useful when you receive percent-encoded data from a web server, API, or browser address bar and need to read the human-readable version. It is also useful for debugging log files that contain encoded URLs.
Privacy — your data stays local
All encoding and decoding runs in your browser using native JavaScript Web APIs. Nothing is sent to a server.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between encodeURI and encodeURIComponent?
encodeURI is for encoding a full URL — it preserves characters like /, ?, &, and =. encodeURIComponent is for encoding a single value within a URL (e.g. a query parameter value) and encodes those structural characters too.
What does %20 mean?
%20 is the URL-encoded representation of a space character. You may also see + used for spaces in form data.
Can I encode an entire URL with this tool?
Yes — use the encodeURI mode for full URLs. Use encodeURIComponent only for individual values like query parameter strings.
Does it support Unicode characters?
Yes. Unicode characters are first UTF-8 encoded then percent-encoded, as per the URI specification.