URL Decoder
Restore percent-encoded strings to their original readable form. Paste an encoded query value or path segment and see the decoded text instantly, with UTF-8 handled automatically.
What this means
Percent-encoded URLs hide the original text inside %XX sequences. Decoding resolves each sequence back to the character it represents.
How we calculate it
Formula
decodeURIComponent(text) resolves every %XX to its byte, then decodes the result as UTF-8.Worked example
Decode 'hello%20world':
- 1Paste the encoded string.
- 2The decoded text appears live.
- 3Copy the result.
Important assumptions
- Decoding assumes UTF-8 encoding, the modern standard for URLs.
Frequently asked questions
What does %20 mean?
%20 is the percent-encoded form of a space. %2F is a slash, and %C3%A9 is é in UTF-8.
Why does my decoded text show replacement characters?
The encoded bytes were probably not UTF-8, so some sequences cannot be mapped to valid characters.
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