---
name: "curl_easy_unescape"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "curl"
version: "166.0.0.0.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/curl_easy_unescape"
---

# curl\_easy\_unescape(3)

URL decodes the given string

## NAME

curl\_easy\_unescape - URL decodes the given string

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <curl/curl.h>
char *curl_easy_unescape(CURL *curl, const char *input,
                         int inlength, int *outlength);
```

## DESCRIPTION

This function converts the URL encoded string **input** to a "plain string" and returns that in an allocated memory area. All input characters that are URL encoded (%XX where XX is a two-digit hexadecimal number) are converted to their binary versions.

If the **length** argument is set to 0 (zero), *[curl\_easy\_unescape(3)](/curl_easy_unescape/3.md)* uses strlen() on **input** to find out the size.

If **outlength** is non-NULL, the function writes the length of the returned string in the integer it points to. This allows proper handling even for strings containing %00. Since this is a pointer to an *int* type, it can only return a value up to *INT\_MAX* so no longer string can be returned in this parameter.

Since 7.82.0, the **curl** parameter is ignored. Prior to that there was per-handle character conversion support for some old operating systems such as TPF, but it was otherwise ignored.

You must *[curl\_free(3)](/curl_free/3.md)* the returned string when you are done with it.

## EXAMPLE

```
int main(void)
{
  CURL *curl = curl_easy_init();
  if(curl) {
    int decodelen;
    char *decoded = curl_easy_unescape(curl, "%63%75%72%6c", 12, &decodelen);
    if(decoded) {
      /* do not assume printf() works on the decoded data! */
      printf("Decoded: ");
      /* ... */
      curl_free(decoded);
    }
    curl_easy_cleanup(curl);
  }
}
```

## AVAILABILITY

Added in 7.15.4 and replaces the old *[curl\_unescape(3)](/curl_unescape/3.md)* function.

## RETURN VALUE

A pointer to a null-terminated string or NULL if it failed.

## SEE ALSO

[**curl\_easy\_escape**(3)](/curl_easy_escape/3.md), [**curl\_free**(3)](/curl_free/3.md)