What is URL Decoding?
URL decoding (also known as percent decoding) converts encoded URLs back to their original text. This is useful when reading URLs with query strings or special characters that have been converted to percent-encoded format.
When URLs are encoded, characters like spaces become %20, and symbols get converted to make them web-safe. This tool reverses that process.
When You Need URL Decoding
- →Reading Query Strings:Decode URL parameters to see their actual values.
- →Debugging Web Apps:Understand what data is being passed in URLs.
- →Analyzing Links:See the real content behind encoded tracking URLs.
- →Working with APIs:Decode responses that contain encoded URL data.
Common Encoded Characters
| Character | Encoded | Description |
|---|---|---|
| (space) | %20 | Space character |
| ! | %21 | Exclamation mark |
| # | %23 | Hash/pound sign |
| $ | %24 | Dollar sign |
| & | %26 | Ampersand |
| + | %2B | Plus sign |
| / | %2F | Forward slash |
| : | %3A | Colon |
| = | %3D | Equals sign |
| ? | %3F | Question mark |
| @ | %40 | At symbol |
About URL Encoding
URL encoding (percent encoding) converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. URLs can only contain certain characters from the ASCII set. Characters outside this set, or reserved characters with special meanings in URLs, must be encoded.
How It Works
Unsafe characters are replaced with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code. For example, a space (ASCII 32) becomes %20 (32 in hex is 20).
- ✓Makes URLs work properly in all browsers
- ✓Handles special characters correctly
- ✓Turns spaces and symbols into web-safe formats
- ✓Essential for passing data in query strings