This little tool will allow you to either convert plain ASCII text into URL Encoded text strings, or convert text that is already URL Encoded into plain ASCII text by Decoding it. It is helpful if you need to see what the characters in some URLs means.
I made it mainly for those who need to figure out Rewrite Conditions and Rewrite Rules for use in .htaccess files. Realize though that with many special characters you may have to escape them in your Rewrites by preceeding the plain text version with a backslash (\) character, as many of them will have a special function or meaning in .htaccess. Though the tool was created to help those performing Rewrites, it'll also work just fine if you need to sort out what the encoded characters in your urls mean.
If you need to decode a url and aren't sure what is encoded and what isn't, simply paste the whole URL into the form field below. The tool will decode what needs to be decoded, leaving the rest alone.
Instructions:
1. Enter the text string you want to Encode or Decode above.
2. Select either the Encode or Decode radio button, depending upon which operation you need to perform. URL Encoded characters will start with a % (percent) sign, followed by two Hex Digits. For example %7B or %23 or %2F. Each Hex Digit can be either a letter or a number, but there will always be two characters after the percent sign. This script will accept an unlimited number of Encoded characters. It is also configured to accept either plus signs (+) or %20, both of which equate to spaces in URLs.
3. Click the Submit button. The script will deliver the corresponding value below.
Note: There is no error checking built into this script. So if you choose the wrong method you will get spotty results. For instance, if you tried to Encode something that is already url encoded your percent signs (%) will be converted into %25, which is the encoded character for the percent sign.
1. Enter the text string you want to Encode or Decode above.
2. Select either the Encode or Decode radio button, depending upon which operation you need to perform. URL Encoded characters will start with a % (percent) sign, followed by two Hex Digits. For example %7B or %23 or %2F. Each Hex Digit can be either a letter or a number, but there will always be two characters after the percent sign. This script will accept an unlimited number of Encoded characters. It is also configured to accept either plus signs (+) or %20, both of which equate to spaces in URLs.
3. Click the Submit button. The script will deliver the corresponding value below.
Note: There is no error checking built into this script. So if you choose the wrong method you will get spotty results. For instance, if you tried to Encode something that is already url encoded your percent signs (%) will be converted into %25, which is the encoded character for the percent sign.