Unicode Encoder/Decoder

Convert text to Unicode escape sequences (\uXXXX) and back

Easily manage Unicode characters in your project. Convert special symbols, emojis, and international text into JavaScript, ES6, or CSS escape sequences. Our free tool handles bi-directional encoding and decoding for all UTF-16 characters.

Utilities Tools

#encoder #text

Encoding Format

Input

Result

About Unicode Encoding
Unicode encoding allows representing characters from almost all writing systems using specific escape sequences.

Common Formats:
• \uXXXX: Standard JavaScript and Java escape sequence.
• \u{XXXX}: ES6 Unicode code point escape.
• \XXXX: CSS Unicode escape (used in content).
• U+XXXX: Universal notation for Unicode code points.

Master Unicode Escape Sequences in Code

Unicode provides a unique number for every character, no matter what platform, device, or language is being used. However, when writing code in JavaScript, CSS, or other languages, special characters like Emojis or accented letters are often represented through escape sequences to ensure compatibility and prevent encoding errors.

Our Online Unicode Encoder/Decoder allows you to quickly generate these sequences for various environments.

Supported Unicode Formats

1. Standard JavaScript (\uXXXX)

The classic format used in JavaScript (pre-ES6), Java, C++, and Python. It uses 4 hexadecimal digits.

Example: A becomes \\u0041, © becomes \\u00a9.

2. Modern ES6 Format (\u{XXXX})

Introduced in ECMAScript 2015, this format supports "higher code points" without needing complex surrogate pairs. This is the preferred way to encode Emojis in modern JS.

Example: 🚀 becomes \\u\{1f680\}.

3. CSS Content (\XXXX)

Used specifically within CSS files for the content property in pseudo-elements (like :before and :after).

Example: ✓ becomes \\2713.

4. U+ Notation (Universal)

The standard technical notation for expressing Unicode characters in documentation and specifications.

Example: A is U+0041.

Features and Benefits

Intelligent Decoding: Found a string of mixed Unicode escapes in some legacy code? Just paste it here. Our decoder identifies the patterns and restores the original characters instantly.
Emoji & International Support: Fully compatible with the entire Unicode range, including Emojis, Asian scripts, and special mathematical symbols.
Developer-Friendly: One-click copy, easy reset, and mobile-responsive design for on-the-go debugging.

Why Should You Encode Unicode?

Browser Compatibility: Prevent "broken" characters (mojibake) in older browsers or environments that don't default to UTF-8.
CSS Icon Systems: Safely include icons from fonts like FontAwesome directly in your stylesheets.
Source Code Portability: Some compilers or version control systems struggle with non-ASCII characters directly in the source file. Escaping them solves this.
Debugging: Identifying exactly which Unicode character is causing an issue in your data processing pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is UTF-16 vs UTF-8?

UTF-16 uses 16-bit units (what our \\uXXXX sequences represent), while UTF-8 uses variable length bytes. This tool focuses on the escape sequences used by programmers to represent characters in these encodings.

How do I decode a string of Unicode escapes?

Paste your escapade code (e.g., \\u0048\\u0065\\u006c\\u006c\\u006f) into the input box and click "Decode". Our tool will convert it back to Hello.

Does this tool support Emojis?

Yes! Use the "ES6 Format" for the most reliable emoji encoding, or the standard format which will generate the required surrogate pairs.