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URL Decoder

Decode URL-encoded strings and text back to original format with file upload support.

Need to encode URL? Switch to our URL encoder tool.Switch to Encode
URL Decoder
UTF-8
Operation Mode
Input Type
What is URL Decoding?

URL decoding (also known as percent decoding) is the reverse process of URL encoding. It converts percent-encoded sequences (like %20 for space, %40 for at symbol) back to their original characters. This is essential when you receive URL-encoded data and need to restore it to its readable form.

Our URL decoder supports decoding both text strings and files. You can paste a URL-encoded string or upload a URL-encoded file, and our tool will decode it back to the original content.

All decoding happens in your browser - your data never leaves your device, ensuring complete privacy and security.

How URL Decoding Works

URL decoding reverses the encoding process:

  1. Percent Sequence Detection: Identifies percent-encoded sequences (percent followed by two hex digits)
  2. Hexadecimal Conversion: Converts the two hex digits to their decimal value
  3. Character Restoration: Replaces the percent-encoded sequence with the original character
  4. UTF-8 Decoding: For multi-byte characters, decodes UTF-8 sequences back to Unicode characters
  5. Output: Produces the original text or file content

Our decoder automatically detects the original file type and restores the correct filename and extension when decoding files.

Common Use Cases for URL Decoding

Query Parameter Analysis

Decode URL query parameters to see their actual values. Useful for debugging URLs and understanding what data is being passed.

Form Data Processing

Decode form data received from HTML forms. Form submissions often use URL encoding, and you may need to decode the values.

API Response Handling

Decode URL-encoded data from API responses. Some APIs return URL-encoded strings that need to be decoded for processing.

Log File Analysis

Decode URL-encoded entries in log files to make them more readable. This helps with debugging and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions
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