What is URL Decoding?

URL decoding is the process of converting encoded characters in a URL string back into their readable, original form. In a URL, certain characters (like spaces or special symbols) are replaced with percent-encoded values to ensure compatibility across all browsers and servers.

For example:

https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Ffile%20name

…becomes:

https://example.com/file name

How Does URL Decoding Work?

When a URL is encoded, special characters are replaced with percent (%) signs followed by two-digit hexadecimal values. The decoder reads the string, identifies these %xx sequences, and converts them back to their ASCII equivalents.

For example:

• %20 → space ( )

• %3A → colon (:)

• %2F → slash (/)

This process is done using standard decoding functions, like JavaScript’s decodeURIComponent() or Python’s urllib.parse.unquote().

How to Use Qodex URL Decoder Tool

1. Paste your percent-encoded URL or string.

2. Click “Decode”.

3. Get the clean, readable text instantly in the output box.

4. Use “Copy” or download the result.

This tool works entirely in your browser and supports decoding:

• Full URLs

• Query strings

• Encoded text snippets

Practical Use Cases

• Debugging URLs: Quickly inspect complex or broken query parameters.

• Data Cleaning: Decode encoded data from forms, logs, or APIs.

• Web Development: Decode strings before further processing in apps.

• SEO Analysis: Understand human-readable URLs from encoded versions.

• Security Reviews: Inspect suspicious links and obfuscated input.

Handy for turning encoded JavaScript URLs from complete gibberish into readable gibberish, making it easier for developers and analysts to spot issues, glean meaning, or simply untangle a web of percent signs and ampersands. Whether you're troubleshooting a mysterious redirect or just trying to make sense of a cryptic link, decoding reveals what's really going on behind the scenes.

Handy for turning encoded JavaScript URLs from complete gibberish into readable gibberish.

Whether you’re deciphering a jumbled string of percent signs and hex codes or unraveling the mysteries hidden in a suspicious link, these tools help transform opaque URL data into something you can actually make sense of.

Code Example: Decode URL in Python

import urllib.parse
encoded_url = "https%3A%2F%2Fqodex.ai%2Fall-tools%2Furl-decoder"
decoded_url = urllib.parse.unquote(encoded_url)
print("Decoded:", decoded_url)
Output: https://qodex.ai/all-tools/url-decoder

Using the URL Decoder Offline (Upcoming)

Want to use this tool without an internet connection? Simply open the page, right-click, and choose "Save as" to download it to your device. You'll then have the URL Decoder/Encoder available for offline use anytime you need it—just open the saved file in your browser.

Try it in our:

• UTF-8 Decoder if the text is also encoded in UTF-8

• Base64 Decoder for content that has been double-encoded

Pro Tips

• URLs often contain multiple encodings. If you decode and still see %, run it again.

• Don’t decode values more than once unless you’re sure it was double-encoded.

• Use this with our URL Encoder for round-trip testing.

• Decode query strings to separate parameters for debugging or analytics.