URL-decode a String
Turn a percent-escaped URL string back into plain text. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
0 chars · 0 lines
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use URL-decode a String
- 1. Paste the percent-encoded string. Enter a URL, query string, or parameter value containing percent escapes like %20 into the input pane. URL-decode a String reverses that encoding back to plain characters.
- 2. Turn on Decode + as a space. Turn this on when the source is a query string or form-encoded value, where a literal plus sign represents a space rather than the character plus itself.
- 3. Copy the decoded text. Copy the readable result out of the output pane, now showing the original characters, spaces, and symbols instead of their percent-escaped form.
When to use URL-decode a String
URL-decode a String converts percent-escaped characters in a URL or query string back into their original plain-text form. Use it whenever you have a link or parameter value that is hard to read because spaces and symbols have been encoded.
- Reading a redirect URL from a network tab. A browser network request shows a redirect parameter full of %2F and %3D sequences, and decoding it reveals the actual destination URL underneath.
- Decoding a query string parameter. An API call passes a search term as a query parameter with spaces turned into %20 or plus signs, and you want to see the original search text before debugging.
- Reading a shared link with encoded text. Someone shared a link containing an encoded file name or title with non-ASCII characters, and decoding it shows the readable name instead of the escaped bytes.
- Inspecting form-encoded submission data. A logged form submission stores its body as application/x-www-form-urlencoded, and decoding a field with plus signs turned into spaces shows what the user actually typed.
Examples
Decode a query value
Input
a%20b%26c%3Dd
Output
a b&c=d
About the URL-decode a String tool
URL-decode a String does its work locally, right in the browser. Turn a percent-escaped URL string back into plain text. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the String Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 159 small, focused String utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with the Decode + as a space setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Is URL-decode a String free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.