JavaScript (ES2026) reference · JSON and Global Functions

JavaScript decodeURI() Function

Decode a full URL encoded by encodeURI(), keeping escape sequences that represent reserved URL characters.

JavaScript (ES2026) Since ES3

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Syntax

decodeURI(encoded)

Parameter	Description
`encoded`	An encoded URL.

A decoded string.

Decode a URLTry it yourself

console.log(decodeURI("https://example.com/my%20file.pdf"));

Output

https://example.com/my file.pdf

%26 (&) stays encoded with decodeURI()Try it yourself

console.log(decodeURI("a%26b"), decodeURIComponent("a%26b"));

Output

a%26b a&b

Version	Change
JavaScript ES3	Added

encodeURI() · Encode a complete URL, leaving characters with special meaning in URLs (like :, /, ? and &) untouched.
decodeURIComponent() · Decode a URL component encoded by encodeURIComponent(), turning %20-style escapes back into characters.
JavaScript Fetch API · tutorial