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URL Decode String

Zero-dependency Python snippets for URL decoding using the standard library.

5 snippets available in this sub-category.

Simple

Decode query string parameters

url decode query params parse_qs web

Decode query string parameters

from urllib.parse import parse_qs

query = 'q=python+programming&lang=en&page=1'
params = parse_qs(query)
print(params)  # {'q': ['python programming'], 'lang': ['en'], 'page': ['1']}

Notes

  • parse_qs decodes + as space and percent-encoded characters
  • Returns dict with lists of values

Decode path segment

url decode path unquote web

Decode path segment

from urllib.parse import unquote

encoded = 'Caf%C3%A9%20%26%20Bistro%2F2024'
decoded = unquote(encoded)
print(decoded)  # Café & Bistro/2024

Notes

  • unquote decodes percent-encoded and non-ASCII characters

Decode form data from POST

url decode form post parse_qs web

Decode form data from POST

from urllib.parse import parse_qs

encoded = 'name=John+Doe&email=john%40example.com&message=Hello%21'
params = parse_qs(encoded)
print(params)  # {'name': ['John Doe'], 'email': ['john@example.com'], 'message': ['Hello!']}

Notes

  • Use for application/x-www-form-urlencoded POST bodies

Complex

Decode with Unicode and reserved characters

url decode unicode reserved web

Decode with Unicode and reserved characters

from urllib.parse import unquote

encoded = 'emoji%3A%20%F0%9F%98%83%20%26%20symbols%3A%20%40%23%25'
decoded = unquote(encoded)
print(decoded)  # emoji: 😃 & symbols: @#%

Notes

  • Handles emoji and special symbols
  • Decodes all percent-encoded bytes

Edge Cases

Double decoding and empty values

url decode edge-case double empty web

Double decoding and empty values

from urllib.parse import unquote

# Double-encoded string
double_encoded = 'hello%2520world'
first = unquote(double_encoded)
second = unquote(first)
print(first)   # hello%20world
print(second) # hello world

# Empty string
print(unquote(''))  # ''

Notes

  • Double decoding may be needed if input was encoded multiple times
  • Empty strings remain empty

🔗 Cross-References

🏷️ Tags

url, decode, query, params, form, unicode, reserved, edge-case, web, unquote, parse_qs

📝 Notes

  • Use unquote for path segments, parse_qs for query/form data
  • Always decode user input before processing
  • For encoding, see urllib.parse.quote and urlencode