How to Use the URL Decoder
- Paste the percent-encoded text or URL into the input box.
- The decoded, readable text appears instantly.
- If the input contains malformed encoding, an error will explain what went wrong.
How percent-decoding works
Decoding reverses the encoding process: every `%XX` sequence is converted back into the character its hexadecimal value represents. Because URLs encode text as UTF-8 bytes, multi-byte characters (like emoji or accented letters) are represented by multiple consecutive `%XX` sequences that are decoded together.
When you'll encounter encoded URLs
You will run into percent-encoded text when inspecting query parameters in browser dev tools, reading server logs, working with redirect URLs that embed another URL as a parameter, or debugging why a link containing special characters isn't behaving as expected.
Example
hello%20world%20%26%20more
hello world & more
Tips
- A "+" in a query string traditionally decodes to a space in that specific context, distinct from %20.
- Malformed encoding (like a stray "%" not followed by two hex digits) will cause a decoding error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does decoding sometimes fail?
This usually means the input contains a "%" that isn't followed by two valid hexadecimal digits, often from text that wasn't actually URL-encoded in the first place.
Is my text sent to a server?
No, decoding happens entirely in your browser.