Developer Tools
Parse a URL Query String
Transform pasted text with the query string parser and copy the cleaned output.
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| utm_source | |
| page | 2 |
Direct Answer
Use the Query String Parser when you have a URL with query parameters and need to see each key and value decoded and separated, instead of reading the raw ?key=value&key2=value2 string by eye.
What counts as the query string
A URL has distinct parts, and only one specific segment is the query string a server-side parser will actually receive.
- everything after the ? and before an optional # is the query string
- the fragment after # is never sent to the server at all
- the leading ? itself is a delimiter, not part of any key or value
- keys and values are separated by = and pairs are separated by &
Encoding quirks that break naive parsing
Query strings look plain-text simple but carry a few encoding rules that trip up manual parsing.
- spaces may appear as %20 or as + depending on the encoding context
- reserved characters like & and = inside a value must be percent-encoded (e.g. %26)
- duplicate keys are not handled consistently across frameworks
- bracket or dot notation for nested structures is a framework convention, not a URL standard
How to Use Query String Parser
- Paste or type your content into the input box.
- The transformed result appears instantly in the result panel below.
- Click Copy result to copy the output to your clipboard.
- Download .txt saves the transformed text as a file.
- Reset clears everything and lets you start over.
Reference
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Transform pasted text into a cleaner or different format. |
| Input | Text, lines, lists, or copied content. |
| Result | Transformed text ready to copy or download. |
| Best for | Cleanup, formatting, list preparation, and copy-paste workflows. |
| Category | Developer Tools |
| Works on | Desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers |
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A Focused Query String Parser Alternative
People looking for alternatives to JSONLint, Code Beautify, FreeFormatter, Browserling often want a simpler workflow. This query string parser focuses on the task first: clear inputs, a visible result, useful related tools, free access, and no account requirement.
- Puts the tool input and result near the top of the page
- Free to use with no account or payment step
- Includes focused explanations and related tools
- Designed to avoid misleading download buttons and forced interstitials
Useful Related Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly counts as the query string in a URL?
Everything between the ? and an optional # is the query string. The fragment after # (used for in-page anchors or client-side routing) is not part of the query string and is never sent to the server at all.
How are duplicate keys like ?tag=a&tag=b handled?
There's no universal standard. Some server frameworks silently keep only the last value for a repeated key, others automatically collect repeated keys into an array, and some require an explicit array syntax like tag[]=a&tag[]=b to get array behavior. The right interpretation depends entirely on what's parsing it on the other end.
How are spaces encoded in a query string?
They can appear as %20 (standard percent-encoding) or as a literal + character. The + convention comes from the application/x-www-form-urlencoded format used by HTML forms, so a parser that doesn't account for both can decode spaces incorrectly depending on how the URL was built.
Why do I see %26 in a value instead of a literal &?
Because an unencoded & inside a value would be misread as the separator starting a new key-value pair. Encoding it as %26 keeps it part of the value instead of splitting the query string in the wrong place.
Is the leading ? part of the query string itself?
No. The ? is just the delimiter marking where the path ends and the query string begins - it isn't included in any key or value once the query string is parsed.
Are query string keys case-sensitive?
Yes, by convention - foo and Foo are technically different keys. Whether a particular backend framework treats them as the same depends on how that framework's routing or parsing code is written, not on any URL-level rule.
Can a query string represent nested objects?
Not natively - the query string format itself only knows flat key-value pairs. Frameworks emulate nesting with conventions like bracket notation (filter[status]=active) or dot notation, and these conventions differ between ecosystems like PHP and JavaScript's qs library.
What's the difference between encodeURIComponent and encodeURI for query values?
encodeURIComponent escapes characters like &, =, and ? that have special meaning in a query string, making it safe to encode a single value. encodeURI leaves those characters untouched because it's meant to encode a complete URI where they're expected to keep their structural role.
Does the order of query parameters matter?
Functionally, usually not - most servers read parameters by key regardless of order. Some caching layers or third-party APIs, however, treat differently-ordered query strings as distinct URLs unless the order is normalized first.
Is there a length limit on query strings?
Not from the URL spec itself, but browsers, servers, and proxies impose practical limits - commonly around 2000 characters in older browsers or intermediary systems - beyond which a URL may be truncated or rejected.
Are query string values automatically percent-decoded?
A proper parser decodes percent-escaped sequences back into their original characters, but the + to space conversion only applies when the value follows form-urlencoded conventions - a parser that isn't aware of that context may leave a literal + in place.
Should sensitive data ever go in a query string?
No. Query strings show up in browser history, server access logs, and the Referer header sent to other sites, and they're sometimes cached by proxies or CDNs - none of which are appropriate places for tokens, passwords, or other sensitive values.
What is the Query String Parser?
The Query String Parser is a free online utility for developer formatting, validation, and debugging tasks. It changes pasted text into the requested format and shows the transformed output ready to copy.