How to decode a URL
- Paste the encoded URL or query string — decoding happens live.
- Seeing
%25in the output? The string was double-encoded — copy the output back into the input to decode again. - Copy the readable result, or hit ⇄ Swap to re-encode it.
Why URLs get encoded
URLs only allow a limited set of characters, so browsers and servers replace everything else with % plus the byte's hex value: a space becomes %20, é becomes %C3%A9, and & becomes %26. That's great for machines and miserable for humans reading logs, debugging redirect chains, or inspecting analytics parameters. Paste any encoded mess here and read it like a sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decode a URL-encoded string?
Paste the encoded text into the input box — %XX sequences and + signs are converted back to their original characters instantly, including UTF-8 sequences like %C3%A9 for é.
Why is my URL full of %25 sequences?
%25 is the percent sign itself — it means the URL was encoded twice. Decode once and you'll see %20-style sequences; decode again for the original text.
Does + mean a space in URLs?
In query strings submitted by HTML forms, yes — + represents a space. This decoder converts + to a space automatically, matching how servers interpret form data.
Is it safe to paste URLs containing tokens?
Yes. Decoding runs entirely in your browser — URLs with session tokens, API keys or personal data never leave your machine.