How to decode a URL or query string
To decode encoded text, paste it into URL Decoder and pick the mode that matches where the text came from: a full URL, a query string, a single query value, or a path segment. The tool then percent-decodes the input — turning sequences like %20 back into spaces and %3D back into equals signs — and shows the readable result, ready to copy.
Mode matters because encoded text looks similar across these contexts but the safest decoding behavior is not identical. In query-oriented modes, a plus sign is treated as a space, which is the expected behavior for form data, while other modes leave it alone. Keeping the cases separate keeps the output trustworthy.
All decoding happens locally in your browser. The link or value you paste never leaves your device, which is useful for URLs that contain tokens, internal paths, or other sensitive parameters.
- Reading tracking and redirect links that are heavily encoded
- Inspecting query values copied from logs or analytics
- Debugging API requests with encoded parameters
- Confirming what a shortened or wrapped URL actually points to
What happens with broken encoding?
When URL Decoder encounters invalid or incomplete percent-encoding, it does not silently corrupt the output. Instead it keeps the broken segment visible and warns you, so you can see exactly where the problem is rather than getting a misleading result.
This is the reverse of the URL Encoder tool and shares the same mode structure, so you can move between encoding and decoding work safely. Picking the matching mode on each side keeps round-trips predictable.