URL-decode Text
Turn percent-encoded text 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 Text
- 1. Paste the percent-encoded text. Paste the percent-encoded string you want to read into the input pane. URL-decode Text converts every %XX sequence back into its original character immediately as you type.
- 2. Decide how plus signs are treated. Turn on Treat + as space if the encoded text came from a form submission where + represents a space, or leave it off to keep literal plus characters intact.
- 3. Copy the decoded text. Click copy on the output pane and read the decoded value in place of the original percent-encoded string copied from a URL, a log line or a request payload.
When to use URL-decode Text
URL-decode Text turns percent-encoded sequences back into their original characters, undoing the escaping a URL or form submission applies. It's the tool to reach for whenever an encoded string needs to be read as plain text again.
- Reading a query parameter from a browser address bar. A URL copied from the address bar often shows %20 and %26 in place of spaces and ampersands. Decoding it here restores the readable version of the parameter.
- Inspecting a webhook payload's encoded field. A webhook payload sometimes delivers a field that's still percent-encoded for transport. Pasting that field here reveals its actual, readable content before you process it any further downstream.
- Debugging a redirect URL with encoded characters. A redirect URL full of percent signs is hard to read at a glance. Decoding it here makes the actual destination and parameters clear during debugging.
Examples
Unescape
Input
a%20b%26c
Output
a b&c
About the URL-decode Text tool
URL-decode Text runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Turn percent-encoded text back into plain text. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's Text Tools section, 211 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
You can shape the output with the Treat + as 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.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Is URL-decode Text 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.