URL Parser & Decoder
Deconstruct any URL into its core components and decode query parameters instantly.
The Anatomy of a URL
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a structured address that tells your browser exactly where to find a resource on the internet. Every URL has a defined structure with distinct components, each serving a specific purpose. Understanding these components helps with debugging web applications, working with APIs, and building correct links.
https://user:pass@www.example.com:8080/path/page?key=value&id=42#section
┌── protocol ─┐ ┌─ auth ──┐ ┌─── hostname ───┐ ┌port┐ ┌─ path ──┐ ┌─── query ───┐ ┌─ hash ─┐URL Components Explained
- Protocol (scheme) —
https://orhttp://. HTTPS means the connection is encrypted with TLS. - Username and password — rare in modern URLs but used in some legacy authentication systems.
- Hostname — the domain name (
example.com) or IP address where the server lives. - Port — HTTPS defaults to 443, HTTP to 80. Only shown in URLs when using a non-default port.
- Path — the specific resource location on the server, like a file path.
- Query string — key-value pairs after
?, separated by&. Used to pass parameters. - Fragment (hash) — the part after
#. Handled by the browser, not the server — points to a section of the page.
URL Encoding and Decoding
URLs can only contain a limited set of characters. Special characters — spaces, unicode, symbols — must be "percent encoded" by replacing them with a % followed by their hexadecimal ASCII code. A space becomes %20, an at-sign becomes%40. This parser decodes those percent-encoded characters back to their human-readable form, making API URLs and query strings much easier to read and debug.
Knowledge Base
A URL Parser is a developer tool that breaks down a complex web address into its individual parts: protocol, domain, port, path, query parameters, and hash fragments. It also decodes URL-encoded values for easy reading.
- 1Paste the complete URL into the input field.
- 2Click 'Parse URL' or press Enter.
- 3View the visual breakdown of the URL components in color-coded badges.
- 4Check the detailed table for query parameters and their decoded values.
- 5Click the copy icon next to any component to copy it.
Unlike basic parsers, it automatically handles URLs missing the 'https://' protocol, provides both raw and decoded parameter values (crucial for debugging %20 spaces or encoded characters), and allows copying individual components with one click.
Why did it automatically add 'https://' to my URL?
The browser's URL parsing engine requires a valid protocol (like http:// or https://) to work correctly. If omitted, we auto-add https:// to ensure the parsing doesn't fail.
What is the difference between Raw and Decoded values?
In URLs, special characters are encoded (e.g., a space becomes %20). The Raw value shows exactly what's in the URL, while the Decoded value translates it back to human-readable text.
Can I parse URLs with complex query strings?
Absolutely! It handles multiple parameters, nested arrays, and heavily encoded strings flawlessly, breaking them down into a clean, readable table.