URL Decoder

Decode URL percent escapes into readable UTF-8 text. See why literal plus signs stay in place and identify malformed escapes.

Inspect the original text behind a percent-encoded value. The decoder applies component decoding once, which helps when checking a query value or a copied path segment.

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Decoded URLLive
https://toolbox.local/search?q=pdf & word

Your input stays on this device for this operation. We don’t upload or store it.

About URL Decoder

Inspect the original text behind a percent-encoded value. The decoder applies component decoding once, which helps when checking a query value or a copied path segment.

UTF-8 escapes

Decodes multibyte sequences such as %C3%A9.

Invalid input message

Reports malformed escape sequences.

How to use URL Decoder

  1. 1

    Paste the encoded component

    Paste the encoded component into Encoded URL String.

  2. 2

    Check the decoded value

    Check the live output for the decoded value or an invalid-encoding message.

  3. 3

    Copy the decoded text

    Copy the decoded text after checking whether separators appeared.

Formats and practical limits

Percent-encoded text in, decoded text out.

  • A literal plus stays a plus. Form decoding that treats plus as a space is a separate convention.
  • Incomplete escapes or invalid encoded UTF-8 produce an error message.

Practical example

caf%C3%A9%2Btea becomes café+tea.

Further reading

Frequently Asked Questions

2 answers
Does %2520 become a space?

One pass yields %20. A second pass would decode that escape.

Does decoding validate a link?

It only decodes text. Inspect the URL structure separately.