URL Decoder

Decode URL encoded strings and convert percent-encoded characters back to readable text. Perfect for analyzing URLs, query parameters, and web form data.

Paste your URL encoded string above to decode it

Common URL Encoding Examples:

Space Character:
Encoded: %20 → Decoded: (space)
Question Mark:
Encoded: %3F → Decoded: ?
Ampersand:
Encoded: %26 → Decoded: &
Equals Sign:
Encoded: %3D → Decoded: =
Forward Slash:
Encoded: %2F → Decoded: /
Colon:
Encoded: %3A → Decoded: :

About URL Decoding

What is URL Decoding?

URL decoding is the process of converting percent-encoded characters in URLs back to their original form. When URLs contain special characters, spaces, or non-ASCII characters, they are encoded using percent encoding (also called URL encoding) where each character is represented by a percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits.

Why are URLs Encoded?

  • Special Characters: URLs can only contain certain characters safely
  • Spaces: Spaces are not allowed in URLs and must be encoded as %20
  • Reserved Characters: Characters like ?, &, =, # have special meanings in URLs
  • Non-ASCII Characters: International characters need encoding for compatibility
  • Form Data: Web forms automatically encode data when submitted

Common Encoded Characters

  • %20 - Space character
  • %21 - Exclamation mark (!)
  • %22 - Quotation mark (")
  • %23 - Hash/pound sign (#)
  • %24 - Dollar sign ($)
  • %25 - Percent sign (%)
  • %26 - Ampersand (&)
  • %2B - Plus sign (+)
  • %2F - Forward slash (/)
  • %3A - Colon (:)
  • %3D - Equals sign (=)
  • %3F - Question mark (?)

When to Use URL Decoding

  • Analyzing web server logs and access logs
  • Debugging web applications and APIs
  • Processing form data and query parameters
  • Working with encoded URLs from databases
  • Converting encoded URLs for display purposes
  • Troubleshooting URL-related issues

Common Questions

What is the difference between URL encoding and decoding?

URL encoding converts special characters to percent-encoded format (%XX), while URL decoding reverses this process, converting percent-encoded characters back to their original form.

Is URL decoding safe?

Yes, URL decoding is safe and only converts encoded characters back to their readable form. It doesn't execute any code or perform any harmful operations.

Can I decode multiple URLs at once?

This tool processes one URL string at a time. For multiple URLs, decode them individually or use the tool multiple times.

What if my URL is already decoded?

If your URL is already in readable form (not encoded), the decoder will return it unchanged. There's no harm in running already-decoded URLs through the tool.

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