Unicode to Text Converter
Convert Unicode escape sequences (\uXXXX) to readable text and encode text to Unicode escapes. Handle surrogate pairs and emoji.
About the Unicode to Text Converter
Decode literal backslash-u escapes with four hexadecimal digits, such as \u0041, into text, or encode text into UTF-16 \uXXXX escapes. A character outside the Basic Multilingual Plane uses two escapes. U+0041 notation and backslash-u brace notation are not decoded. The result is text, not a complete JSON string literal.
Features
- Decode \uXXXX sequences to readable text
- Encode text to \uXXXX escape format
- Handles surrogate pairs for emoji
- Real-time conversion
- Copy result to clipboard
- 100% private — browser-only processing
How to use this tool
The Unicode to Text Converter works right in your browser — no signup, no installation. Follow these steps:
- Paste Unicode escape sequences or plain text into the input area.
- Select Decode to convert \uXXXX to text, or Encode to convert text to escapes.
- View the converted result instantly.
- Click Copy to save the result.
Frequently asked questions
What is \uXXXX format?
\uXXXX is a Unicode escape sequence where XXXX is the hexadecimal code point. For example, \u0048 represents "H", \u00E9 represents "é". This format is commonly used in JSON, JavaScript, and programming language string literals.
Does this handle emoji?
Yes. Emoji use surrogate pairs in UTF-16 (two \uXXXX sequences). Our tool correctly handles surrogate pair decoding and encoding for all emoji and special characters.
Why would I encode text to Unicode escapes?
Encoding text to \uXXXX is useful for ensuring ASCII-safe string representation in JSON, avoiding encoding issues in source code, making strings portable across different text encodings, and debugging Unicode-related problems.
Using the results
Use the Unicode to Text Converter to transform supported text or data formats in your browser. Review the output before replacing your original, since some conversions change formatting or discard information.