Decode URL Text: decodeURIComponent
To decode percent-encoded text, paste the string and run decodeURIComponent for a query value, or decodeURI for a full URL. Docify's Decode component / Decode URI buttons do that. hello%20world%26test%3D123 under Decode URI is hello world%26test%3D123; Decode component turns it into hello world&test=123. A lone % or a non-hex pair shows an error. A + stays a plus, not a space. Nothing is uploaded.
Percent sequences such as %20 are UTF-8 bytes written as hex. Decoding is not automatic on this page — you click a button. The steps below match the live URL decoder.
How to decode a percent-encoded value
Step 1: Paste the encoded string
Switch to Decode. Paste into the left-hand box. Both Decode buttons stay disabled until that box has text.
Step 2: Click Decode component
Open the Docify URL decoder and click Decode component. The page runs decodeURIComponent(input). Use Decode URI when the string is a complete URL and you want reserved delimiters to stay encoded.
Step 3: Read the output or the error
Copy writes the output to the clipboard. There is no download. Decode component turns the sample into:
Decode URI leaves reserved sequences encoded
decodeURI reverses what encodeURI would have written. It decodes %20 but keeps sequences for reserved characters such as /, :, &, and =. The live decoder now names those convert examples:
Load sample in Decode fills https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dhello%20world%26category%3Dnews. Decode URI yields https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dhello world%26category%3Dnews; Decode component yields https://example.com/search?q=hello world&category=news. That is why the same sample looks different under each button. See encodeURI vs encodeURIComponent for when each pair is the right choice.
Errors and plus signs
Malformed percent sequences
A lone % or a non-hex pair such as %ZZ throws a URIError. Decode URI then shows “Error decoding URI”. Decode component shows “Error decoding URL”. The page does not attempt a partial decode.
Plus is not a space
hello+world stays hello+world under both decode buttons. Form-urlencoded bodies treat + as a space; this tool does not. Encode a space as %20 if you need it to come back as a space — see encode a query value.
Decode percent-encoded text in the browser
decodeURIComponent for a value. decodeURI for a full URL. + stays a plus. Nothing is uploaded.
Use URL Decoder →FAQ
- Does Docify upload the encoded text I paste?
- No. Decode URI, Decode component, and Copy run in your browser. The page does not send the string to a server.
- What is the difference between Decode URI and Decode component?
- Decode URI runs decodeURI and leaves reserved percent sequences encoded: hello%20world%26test%3D123 becomes hello world%26test%3D123. Decode component runs decodeURIComponent and decodes those too: the same string becomes hello world&test=123. Both throw a URIError on a malformed percent sequence; the output box then shows “Error decoding URI” or “Error decoding URL”.
- Does decode treat + as a space?
- No. decodeURI and decodeURIComponent leave a literal + as +. They do not implement application/x-www-form-urlencoded. A space that was encoded as %20 decodes back to a space.
- Is decoding automatic as I type?
- No. You must click Decode URI or Decode component. Both buttons stay disabled until the input box has text. There is no file upload and no download — only Copy.