URL Encoded Input
Decoded Output
About URL Decoding
URL decoding reverses the percent-encoding process, converting encoded characters (like %20 for space) back to their original form. This is essential for reading query parameters and understanding URL data.
Example
Encoded: Hello%20World%21
Decoded: Hello World!
Encoded: name%3DJohn%20Doe%26age%3D25
Decoded: name=John Doe&age=25
Common Use Cases
- Reading query parameters from URLs
- Debugging API requests and responses
- Analyzing web traffic and logs
- Converting encoded URLs to readable text
- Processing form submissions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is URL decoding?
URL decoding (percent decoding) converts percent-encoded characters back to their original form. For example, %20 becomes a space, %40 becomes @, and %3D becomes =. This is the reverse of URL encoding.
When is URL decoding needed?
URL decoding is needed when analyzing query strings, processing form data, debugging API requests, examining web traffic, or reading URL parameters that contain special characters that were encoded for safe transmission.
What characters get URL encoded?
Reserved characters (like ?, #, [, ], @, !, $, &, =, +, ,, ;) and non-ASCII characters (Unicode, accented letters) are typically encoded. Spaces become %20, and special symbols are converted to % followed by hexadecimal values.
How does URL decoding differ from other decoding methods?
URL decoding specifically handles percent-encoded sequences (%XX), unlike HTML entity decoding (which handles & codes) or Base64 decoding (which handles base64 strings). Each encoding method serves different purposes in data transmission.