Unicode Converter and Decoder
Decode Unicode escapes, HTML entities, and URL-encoded strings, or convert readable text to code points, UTF-16 escapes, UTF-8 bytes, Base64, and other technical formats. Use the input tabs to choose what you pasted; everything runs in your browser.
- Convert text into Unicode code points such as U+0048 and escaped forms such as \u0048
- Decode Unicode escapes, HTML entities, and URL-encoded strings into readable text
- Inspect UTF-8 byte output, URL encoding, Base64, and NFKC-normalized text
- Reveal invisible Unicode characters that can break usernames, search, forms, or API matching
- Inspect the current characters and bytes before checking the original source encoding
- Use one workbench for decoding, encoding, normalization, and inspection
Key Takeaways
- 01.Unicode is the character map: It assigns code points to characters; encodings such as UTF-8 decide how those code points become bytes.
- 02.Converter means multiple views: This page is best for comparing readable text, code points, escaped text, URL encoding, and Base64.
- 03.Hidden characters matter: Zero-width and spacing characters can make two strings look identical while behaving differently.
- 04.One page handles decoding too: Choose Escapes & entities to reveal readable characters before comparing the other technical views.
When to use this tool
Best for
- Comparing readable text, code points, UTF-8 bytes, escapes, URLs, and Base64
- Developer, QA, API, database, and cross-system text debugging
- Decoding escapes and entities, or reading code point and byte input with the format tabs
Not designed for
- Translating text between human languages
- Creating decorative social text or font-like alphabets
- Automatically repairing source data that was decoded with the wrong character encoding
Need a different workflow? Use the Unicode Text Generator when you want to create decorative copy-and-paste text instead of decode or inspect it.
How to use this tool
Step 1
Paste text or encoded data
Paste normal text, or select Escapes & entities, Code points, UTF-8 hex, or Binary to interpret that input format.
Step 2
Compare conversion views
Review readable text, code points, byte-oriented formats, URL encoding, and hidden-character clues side by side.
Step 3
Copy the needed format
Copy the decoded text, encoded value, code point list, or debugging result for your app, database, log, or document.
Popular Use Cases
Debug a hidden character
Input: foobar
Output: U+0066 U+006F U+006F U+200B U+0062 U+0061 U+0072
Code point view reveals zero-width characters.
Prepare a URL payload
Input: 你好
Output: %E4%BD%A0%E5%A5%BD
URL-encoded output helps API and query usage.
Compare escaped Unicode
Input: Hello
Output: \u0048\u0065\u006C\u006C\u006F
Escaped Unicode is useful for JSON, logs, and cross-system debugging.
Decode an escaped string
Input: \u0048\u0065\u006C\u006C\u006F
Output: Hello
Escapes & entities mode reveals the readable characters before producing the other views.
Inspect UTF-8 bytes
Input: é
Output: C3 A9
Byte output helps explain why one visible character can use multiple bytes.
Quick comparison
| Topic | Best answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode converter | Shows multiple technical representations of the same text. | Best for developers, QA, logs, databases, API payloads, and text debugging. |
| Unicode decoding | Turns escapes, HTML entities, or URL-encoded input into readable characters. | Choose Escapes & entities, then copy the Readable text output. |
| UTF-8 bytes | Shows how Unicode characters are stored as bytes. | Useful when debugging files, network payloads, URLs, and database encoding. |
| Base64 | Encodes bytes as text characters for transport. | Useful for payloads, but it is separate from the Unicode character standard. |
Choose a Unicode converter by task
Use this page for decoding and technical inspection, or switch to a generator when your goal is to create styled text.
Decode and inspect text
Choose an input mode, then compare the readable result with its technical representations.
- Blank Unicode
Identify and copy invisible characters with explicit labels.
- Unicode Arrow Symbols
Find named arrow code points without copying an unknown lookalike.
- Unicode Heart Symbols
Compare heart characters and their text or emoji presentation.
Create Unicode text
Switch from debugging to generation when you want copyable display text.
- Unicode Text Generator
Create decorative letters, symbols, separators, and caption text.
- Unicode Font Generator
Generate bold, script, gothic, bubble, and small caps text.
- Fancy Text Generator
Combine font-like characters and symbols for social profiles.
Solve common text problems
Pick the tool that matches the visible symptom in your string.
- Unicode Arrow Symbols
Find arrow code points without copying an unknown lookalike.
- Unicode Heart Symbols
Compare heart characters and their text or emoji presentation.
- Unicode Text Generator
Replace broken decoration with a fresh, readable text style.
FAQ
What is a Unicode converter?
A Unicode converter changes text between readable characters and technical representations such as code points, UTF-8 bytes, escaped Unicode, URL encoding, and Base64.
What is the difference between Unicode and UTF-8?
Unicode is the character standard that assigns code points such as U+0041. UTF-8 is a byte encoding that stores those code points in files, APIs, URLs, and databases.
Can this convert Unicode to readable text?
Yes. Select Escapes & entities to turn Unicode escapes, HTML entities, and URL-encoded strings into readable characters. The readable-text output also simplifies many font-like Unicode letters through NFKC normalization.
Can this tool find invisible Unicode characters?
Yes. The code point view can reveal zero-width spaces, non-breaking spaces, variation selectors, and other characters that are hard to see in normal text.
Can this tool fix mojibake text?
It shows the characters and bytes you currently have. It does not automatically repair text decoded with the wrong character encoding; check the original file or response encoding.
Does Base64 mean Unicode?
No. Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding. It can contain UTF-8 text after decoding, but Base64 itself is not the Unicode character standard.
Is this Unicode converter free?
Yes. The Unicode converter runs in your browser, requires no registration, and is free for debugging text, logs, API payloads, and copied content.
Editorial review and sources
Reviewed by FancyUnicode editorial team on .
Examples are tested in the browser and checked against the Unicode Standard, Unicode normalization guidance, the WHATWG Encoding Standard, and the HTML Standard. The tool reports deterministic transformations but does not guess a language translation or guarantee recovery of every damaged legacy string.
- The Unicode Standard, Version 17.0
Unicode Consortium
Defines Unicode characters, code points, properties, and conformance requirements.
- Unicode Standard Annex #15: Unicode Normalization Forms
Unicode Consortium
Explains canonical and compatibility normalization, including NFC, NFD, NFKC, and NFKD.
- Encoding Living Standard
WHATWG
Defines UTF-8 and browser encoding and decoding algorithms, including the TextEncoder and TextDecoder APIs.
- Named Character References
WHATWG HTML Standard
Defines the named character references used when interpreting HTML entity text.