Decode + as a Space
Treat + as a space before percent-decoding, the same way HTML form bodies are decoded.
Part of the free URL Decoder. Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Decode + as a Space
application/x-www-form-urlencoded uses + for spaces. If you run decodeURIComponent alone, the plus signs stay. Replace them first, then decode %HH sequences.
Worked example: A form-encoded name
Encoded
Ada+Lovelace
Decoded
Ada Lovelace
Practical tip
Turn on “Plus as space” in the decoder when the input came from an HTML form or a PHP $_GET dump.
How to use this URL Decoder
- 1Use the live tool above — it runs entirely in your browser and never uploads your data.
- 2Paste the sample from the worked example, or use your own input.
- 3Copy the result, then adapt the same steps in your editor, script, or pipeline.
Decode + as a Space FAQs
When is + not a space?
When the sender used encodeURIComponent, a real plus is %2B. A raw + then really is a plus, not a space.
How do I encode a literal plus?
encodeURIComponent("+") returns %2B. That is the only unambiguous form.
More URL Decoder pages
- URL Decode %20 to SpacesDecode %20 and other percent-encoded bytes back to readable text. Paste an encoded URL or query value.
- Decode a Query String OnlineDecode a full query string and read every parameter. Turns %XX sequences back into readable values.
- decodeURIComponent OnlineRun decodeURIComponent on any string. Catch malformed % sequences and see the exact JavaScript result.
- Decode UTF-8 Percent-EncodingDecode percent-encoded UTF-8 back to accents, CJK characters and emoji. See caf%C3%A9 become café.
- Parse URL Query ParametersSplit a URL into protocol, host, path and a table of query parameters. Decode each value automatically.
- Fix Malformed Percent-EncodingSee why decodeURIComponent throws on a trailing % or a lone %2, and how to clean the string before decoding.
- Bulk URL DecoderDecode many percent-encoded lines at once. Paste a list of values or URLs and decode each line.
- Decode a Nested Redirect URLDecode a return_to / redirect parameter that is itself a URL. See the real destination hidden behind percent-encoding.
- Decode + and % Sequences TogetherDecode strings that mix + (form space) and %HH sequences. The usual case for query strings from HTML forms.