URL Decoder

Turn a percent-encoded URL back into readable text. Paste an encoded string full of %20s and %3As and the decoded version appears instantly, with a clear warning if the input is malformed. Decoding uses decodeURIComponent and runs in your browser.

Encoded URL

Decoded Output

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Why use URL Decoder?

Percent-encoded URLs are everywhere in logs, analytics, and redirect chains, and they are nearly unreadable at a glance, since a sequence like %3A%2F%2F is just "://" in disguise. Decoding reverses the encoding so you can actually see the URL or parameter value a system recorded. This tool uses decodeURIComponent, the counterpart to component-level encoding, which faithfully turns every %xx sequence back into its character and reconstructs UTF-8 so non-English text returns intact. When the input is malformed, for example a stray % with no hex digits after it, you get a clear warning rather than a confusing partial result. Two gotchas worth remembering: a plus sign is only a space in form-encoded data, not in URLs generally, and values are sometimes encoded twice, in which case a second decode pass finishes the job. As with the rest of these utilities, decoding is local to your browser. The decoder does not care where a %xx sequence sits in the string, so a single parameter value or a whole URL both decode correctly in one pass.

Key benefits

Instantly converts %xx sequences back into readable characters
Clear warning when an encoded string is malformed
UTF-8 aware, so non-English characters decode correctly
Client-side, the string you paste is never uploaded

Features

Uses decodeURIComponent for accurate value decoding
Live decoding with one-click copy
Detects and flags invalid percent sequences

Popular use cases

Reading a long redirect or tracking URL pulled from a log
Inspecting query parameters captured from a request
Reversing an encoded value before debugging it
Making a shared, encoded link human-readable

How to use URL Decoder

1
Paste the encoded URL
Paste your percent-encoded string or URL into the input box.
2
Read the decoded text
The readable, decoded version appears instantly; malformed input shows a warning.
3
Decode again if double-encoded
If the output still contains %xx sequences, the value was encoded twice; paste that result back in and decode it a second time.
4
Copy or clear
Click "Copy" to copy the decoded text, or "Clear" to reset.

Frequently asked questions

Why are plus signs not turned into spaces?

decodeURIComponent only converts %20 to a space. The plus-as-space rule applies to application/x-www-form-urlencoded form data, not to URLs in general, so if your string came from a form body, replace + with a space before decoding.

Why does it say the encoded URL is invalid?

A malformed percent sequence, such as a lone % not followed by two hex digits, cannot be decoded. Check for truncated or doubly-encoded input.

What is double encoding?

Sometimes a value is encoded twice, so %2520 means an encoded %20. If one pass still shows %xx sequences, decode the result again.

Can I decode a whole URL, not just one parameter?

Yes. decodeURIComponent converts every %xx sequence regardless of where it sits in the string, so pasting a full URL decodes all of it in one pass, not just a single value.

Is the decoded data private?

Yes. Decoding happens entirely in your browser; nothing is transmitted.

Last reviewed: July 2026

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