URL Decoder
Decode URL-encoded text and URLs back to readable format
Convert percent-encoded URLs and text back to their original format with support for multiple encoding standards and advanced configuration options.
💡 Paste URL-encoded text, query parameters, or encoded URLs
💡 Drag and drop text files or paste encoded content directly
💡 Use Ctrl+Enter (Cmd+Enter on Mac) to quickly decode
Decoded text will appear here
Convert + characters to spaces (form-urlencoded style)
Example:
"hello+world" → "hello world"Standard Unicode encoding. Handles all international characters.
Fail on invalid percent encodings instead of ignoring them
Keep HTML-unsafe characters encoded for security
Unsafe characters:
< > " & # (decoded)• UTF-8 handles all Unicode characters including emojis and international text
• Plus to space conversion is standard for HTML form submissions
• Strict mode helps identify malformed or corrupted encoded data
• Unsafe character preservation prevents XSS and injection attacks
• ISO-8859-1 is useful for older European web content
Current configuration:
No decoding history yet
Key Features
Comprehensive URL decoding capabilities
Multiple Encoding Support
Support for UTF-8, ASCII, and ISO-8859-1 encoding formats
Smart Detection
Automatically detects URL-encoded content and confidence levels
Advanced Options
Configurable space handling, strict mode, and unsafe character preservation
Batch Processing
Process multiple files and large texts with progress tracking
How URL Decoding Works
Convert percent-encoded URLs and text back to readable format
Input Encoded Text
Enter or upload URL-encoded text, query parameters, or encoded URLs
Configure Settings
Choose decoding options and format settings
Analyze Content
Our tool detects encoding patterns and determines the best decoding approach
Get Decoded Result
Copy or download your clean, readable text and URLs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL decoding?
URL decoding is the process of converting percent-encoded characters back to their original form. It reverses URL encoding by replacing %XX sequences with their corresponding characters.
What's the difference between UTF-8 and ASCII decoding?
UTF-8 handles all Unicode characters including international text and emojis, while ASCII only supports basic English characters. UTF-8 is the modern standard for web content.
When should I use strict mode?
Use strict mode when you want to ensure data integrity. It will fail on malformed encodings rather than silently ignoring errors, helping you detect corrupted or incorrectly encoded data.
Why are plus signs sometimes treated as spaces?
In application/x-www-form-urlencoded encoding (used in HTML forms), plus signs (+) are used to represent spaces. This is different from standard URL encoding which uses %20 for spaces.
Is URL decoding secure?
Yes, URL decoding is completely secure. It's a standard formatting process, not encryption. Our tool processes all data locally in your browser, so your content never leaves your device.
How do I handle malformed encoded text?
Enable strict mode to identify errors, or try different encoding formats (ASCII vs UTF-8). You can also enable 'preserve unsafe characters' to maintain security while decoding.
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