What is URL?
URL decoding reverses percent-encoding, converting %XX sequences back into the characters they represent — for example %20 becomes a space and %26 becomes &. It is defined by RFC 3986 and is used to read values from query strings, form submissions, logs and API responses. This tool decodes percent-encoded text instantly in your browser.
Runs locally: URL decoding happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How URL works
Decoding turns each %XX back into a byte, then into text:
- Each
%followed by two hex digits is converted back to a single byte (for example%20→ 0x20 = space). - In form-encoded data, a
+is converted to a space. - The resulting bytes are read back as UTF-8 text, so
%C3%A9becomesé.
How to use
- Paste your URL-encoded text into the input box.
- The decoded result appears instantly.
- Click Copy to use the decoded text.
Examples
| Input | Decoded |
|---|---|
hello%20world | hello world |
a%26b%3Dc | a&b=c |
caf%C3%A9 | café |
100%25 | 100% |
Options explained
- Plus as space — Treat + as a space (for application/x-www-form-urlencoded data).
- Character set — Decoded bytes are read back as UTF-8 by default.
Common uses
- Reading values from query strings and URLs.
- Decoding form submissions and API parameters.
- Making percent-encoded data in logs readable.
Frequently asked questions
What does URL decoding do?
It converts %XX sequences (and + in form data) back into the original characters.
Why do I see strange characters after decoding?
The data may use a different character set, or it was double-encoded. Decode again if it was encoded twice.
How do I encode instead?
Use the URL Encode tool.