URL Decoder

Decode URL-encoded strings back to their original form

Overview

A comprehensive online URL decoder that converts percent-encoded URLs back to their original format. This tool handles various encoding schemes, supports multiple character sets, and provides instant decoding with validation for URLs, query parameters, and URI components.

Key Benefits

  • Instant URL decoding with validation
  • Multiple character set support
  • Handles complex URL structures
  • Query parameter parsing
  • Special character restoration
  • Batch processing capability
  • Error detection and reporting

Primary Use Cases

  • Debugging encoded URLs
  • Analyzing query parameters
  • API response processing
  • Form data verification
  • URL troubleshooting

Features

Main Features

  • Real-time URL decoding
  • Automatic encoding detection
  • Character set conversion
  • Parameter extraction
  • Validation checking
  • Error highlighting
  • Batch processing

Technical Specifications

  • RFC 3986 compliance
  • UTF-8 decoding support
  • Multiple encoding formats
  • Special character handling
  • Unicode support

How It Works

The URL decoder identifies percent-encoded characters and converts them back to their original form while maintaining URL structure and functionality. It follows standard decoding rules while handling special cases and character sets.

Steps

  1. URL structure is analyzed
  2. Percent-encoded sequences are identified
  3. Characters are decoded according to encoding type
  4. Special characters are restored
  5. Result is validated
  6. Decoded URL is displayed

Limitations

  • Cannot decode corrupted URLs
  • Some encodings may be ambiguous
  • Character set detection may vary

Examples

Basic URL Decoding

Decoding a simple encoded URL

Input:

https://example.com/my%20folder/file%3F.txt

Output:

https://example.com/my folder/file?.txt

Query Parameter Decoding

Decoding complex query parameters

Input:

name=John%20Doe&tags=c%2B%2B%2Cjava&q=search%20term

Output:

name=John Doe&tags=c++,java&q=search term

Frequently Asked Questions

What is URL decoding?

URL decoding converts percent-encoded characters back to their original form, making encoded URLs readable and usable. It reverses the URL encoding process.

When do I need to decode URLs?

You need to decode URLs when analyzing encoded web addresses, debugging query parameters, processing form submissions, or working with API responses.

How do I know if text is URL encoded?

URL encoded text contains percent signs (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits, representing special characters or spaces in the original text.

Can all encoded URLs be decoded?

Only properly encoded URLs can be decoded accurately. Corrupted or incorrectly encoded URLs may result in errors or unexpected output.

Tips & Best Practices

Best Practices

  • Verify encoding before decoding
  • Check for double-encoding
  • Validate decoded output
  • Handle special characters carefully
  • Consider character encoding

Common Pitfalls

  • Decoding invalid sequences
  • Ignoring character sets
  • Multiple decode attempts
  • Improper error handling
  • Unsafe character handling

Security & Privacy

Data Handling

  • Browser-based processing only
  • No server communication
  • No data retention
  • Memory-only operations

Privacy Considerations

  • No data collection
  • No cookies used
  • No tracking
  • Open source code

Resources & References

Documentation

References