Unicode Converter

Convert text to Unicode escape sequences and decode them back to text — free online.

About

About the Unicode Converter

Converts text into Unicode escape sequences in four common formats, and decodes them back into readable text.

Developers use it to encode a string with special characters into the exact escape format a JSON payload or source file needs, while anyone decoding a mysterious \uXXXX sequence from code or a log uses it to see what character it actually represents. It's one of many free converters on Toolapt, and like every tool here, it's free to use with no sign-up and no limit on how many times you run it.

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Guide

Using the Unicode Converter

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Choose an escape format — \uXXXX, U+XXXX, HTML numeric entity, or %uXXXX.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    To encode: type text into the Text box and click "Text to Unicode".

  3. 3

    Step 3

    To decode: paste escapes into the Unicode escapes box, matching the chosen format, and click "Unicode to text".

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Copy either box with its own button, or click Clear to start over.

  • Converts text into Unicode escapes in four formats — \uXXXX, U+XXXX, HTML numeric entities, and %uXXXX
  • Decodes escapes in any of those four formats back into readable text
  • Handles characters beyond the basic multilingual plane correctly, not just common letters and symbols
  • Works in both directions in the same tool, without needing a second page to reverse the conversion
  • Works entirely in your browser — no installs and no sign-up
  • Free to use, with no limit on how many times you run it
  • Fully responsive, so it works just as well on a phone as on a desktop

Developers

Developers use the Unicode Converter for encoding a string with special characters into the exact escape format a JSON payload, JavaScript source file or config needs.

Web developers

Web developers use the Unicode Converter for turning a character into its HTML numeric entity, or decoding an entity found in a page's source back into the character.

Translators and localizers

Translators and localizers use the Unicode Converter for decoding escaped characters found in translation files back into readable text.

Anyone debugging encoded text

Anyone debugging encoded text uses the Unicode Converter for figuring out what character a mysterious escape sequence found in code or a log represents.

Examples

Unicode Converter examples

3 worked examples

01

Encoding accented text

"Café" encoded as \uXXXX becomes \u0043\u0061\u0066\u00E9 — every character, including the accented é, becomes its 4-digit hex code point.

02

Encoding an emoji

😀 encoded as \uXXXX becomes \uD83D\uDE00 — since it's outside the basic multilingual plane, it's represented as a UTF-16 surrogate pair rather than a single unit.

03

Decoding an HTML entity

★ decoded back to text gives ★, since U+2605 is the black star character.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about the Unicode Converter.

What does the Unicode Converter do?

It converts text into Unicode escape sequences — in \uXXXX, U+XXXX, HTML entity or %uXXXX format — and decodes escapes back into text.

Is the Unicode Converter free to use?

Yes. It's free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many times you use it.

Is my input safe when I use this tool?

Yes. The text or escapes you enter are processed entirely on your own device — nothing is sent to a server.

What's the difference between the four escape formats?

\uXXXX is the format JavaScript and JSON use; U+XXXX is how the Unicode standard itself refers to code points; HTML numeric entities (&#xXXXX;) are used in HTML markup; %uXXXX is a legacy URL-encoding scheme some older systems use.

Does it handle emoji and other characters outside the basic range?

Yes. Characters outside the Unicode basic multilingual plane, including many emoji, are handled using their correct surrogate-pair or full code-point representation depending on the format chosen.

Can I decode escapes copied from a JSON file or log?

Yes. Paste them into the Unicode escapes box with the matching format selected, and click "Unicode to text".

Can I use the Unicode Converter on my phone?

Yes. The page is fully responsive and works on mobile, tablet and desktop browsers alike.

Does the Unicode Converter have any limitations?

Decoding expects well-formed escapes in the selected format; malformed or mixed-format input may not decode into valid text.

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