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URL Decoder Tool

Decode percent-encoded URLs back to readable text. Handle special characters, query parameters, and international characters for web development and data analysis.

⚙️ Decoding Options

🎯
Auto Detect
Automatically detect decoding format
🌐
Standard URL
Standard percent decoding
📝
Form Data
Form data (+ as spaces)
🔍
Query String
Query parameter decoding

🔗 URL Encoded Input

📝 Decoded Output

Decoded successfully: your-decoded-text
0
Input Characters
0
Output Characters
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Size Reduction
Auto
Decoding Type

📊 Bulk URL Decoding

Your bulk decoded URLs will appear here...

Complete Guide to URL Decoding

Everything you need to know about URL decoding, percent decoding, and converting encoded URLs back to readable format.

🔍 What is URL Decoding?

URL decoding (percent decoding) converts URL-encoded characters back to their original form. It reverses the encoding process, converting %XX sequences back to readable characters.

  • %20 becomes space
  • %26 becomes &
  • %3F becomes ?
  • %3D becomes =
  • %2B becomes +

💻 Common Decoding Scenarios

URL decoding is essential for data processing, analytics, and debugging web applications and APIs.

  • Analyzing server logs
  • Processing form submissions
  • API response parsing
  • Search query analysis
  • Debug URL parameters
  • Data extraction tasks

🔧 Decoding Process

Understanding how URL decoding works helps troubleshoot issues and validate data integrity.

// URL Decoding Example const encoded = "Hello%20World%21" const decoded = decodeURIComponent(encoded) // Result: "Hello World!" // Form Data (+ as spaces) "Hello+World%21".replace(/\+/g, ' ') // Then decode: "Hello World!"

⚡ Auto-Detection Features

Modern decoders can automatically detect URL encoding format and handle them appropriately.

  • Standard percent encoding
  • Form data encoding (+ as spaces)
  • Query parameter decoding
  • International character handling

🛡️ Error Handling

Proper URL decoding includes robust error detection and handling for invalid or corrupted encoded strings.

// Safe Decoding with Error Handling try { const decoded = decodeURIComponent(input) return decoded } catch (error) { // Handle malformed encoding console.error("Invalid encoding:", error) }

🌍 International Characters

URL decoding properly handles UTF-8 encoded international characters, restoring original Unicode text.

  • UTF-8 character restoration
  • Unicode normalization
  • Multi-byte character handling
  • Proper character encoding detection

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I decode URL encoded strings safely? +
To decode URL strings safely, always validate the input first and use proper error handling. Our decoder automatically detects encoding format and handles malformed sequences gracefully to prevent errors and data corruption. Simply paste your encoded URL and the tool will safely convert it back to readable text.
What causes URL decoding errors? +
Common causes include invalid percent sequences, incomplete encoding, mixing different encoding types, or attempting to decode non-encoded text. Our tool provides detailed error messages to help identify and fix these issues. Always ensure your input contains properly formatted percent-encoded characters.
How do I handle + symbols in URL decoding? +
The + symbol represents spaces in form data encoding. Use our "Form Data" option to automatically convert + to spaces before decoding. For standard URL decoding, + symbols are preserved as literal characters. Our auto-detect feature can automatically handle both formats.
Can I decode international characters in URLs? +
Yes, our decoder fully supports UTF-8 encoded international characters. For example, "%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC" decodes to "北京" (Beijing in Chinese). The tool automatically handles multi-byte character sequences and properly restores Unicode text from percent-encoded format.
What's the difference between auto-detect and manual modes? +
Auto-detect automatically identifies the encoding format and applies the correct decoding method. Manual modes let you specify the exact decoding type (standard URL, form data, or query string) for more precise control. Auto-detect is recommended for most users as it handles mixed formats intelligently.
How can I verify that URL decoding was successful? +
Check the decoded output for readability and correctness. Our tool shows character counts and provides a preview. Successfully decoded text should be human-readable and contain the expected characters. The preview section shows you exactly what was decoded.
What are common URL encoded characters I should know? +
Common encoded characters include: %20 (space), %21 (!), %22 ("), %23 (#), %24 ($), %25 (%), %26 (&), %27 ('), %28 ((), %29 ()), %2A (*), %2B (+), %2C (,), %2F (/), %3A (:), %3B (;), %3C (<), %3D (=), %3E (>), %3F (?), %40 (@). These are automatically decoded by our tool.
Can I decode multiple URLs at once? +
Yes! Use our Bulk URL Decoding section to process multiple encoded URLs simultaneously. Simply enter each encoded URL on a separate line, and the tool will decode all of them at once. You can then copy all results or download them as a file for easy processing.
Is this URL decoder tool free to use? +
Yes, our URL decoder tool is completely free to use with no registration required. You can decode unlimited URLs, access all decoding formats (auto-detect, standard, form data, query string), copy results, and download decoded content without any charges. All processing happens securely in your browser.
Does the URL decoder work on mobile devices? +
Absolutely! Our URL decoder is fully responsive and works seamlessly on all devices including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. The interface automatically adapts to your screen size, providing an optimal experience whether you're working on mobile or desktop. All features are touch-friendly and accessible.

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