Unicode Encoder / Decoder
Convert text to Unicode \uXXXX format and back. Support for Chinese, Japanese, Korean and all Unicode characters with auto-encode on input.
About Unicode Encoder / Decoder
Our free online Unicode Encoder / Decoder is a powerful tool that converts text to and from Unicode escape sequences. Unicode escape sequences represent characters using the format \uXXXX, where XXXX is the 4-digit hexadecimal code point of the character.
Unicode encoding is widely used in JavaScript strings, JSON data, CSS content properties, and programming languages to represent non-ASCII characters in a safe, portable format. It is essential for handling multilingual text, especially for languages like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and more.
This tool processes your input entirely in the browser using JavaScript, ensuring your data never leaves your device. Encode or decode Unicode instantly with support for multiple output formats including JavaScript-style (\uXXXX) and CSS-style (\XXXXXX) escape sequences.
The auto-encode/decode feature updates the output in real-time as you type, making it convenient for quick conversions. You can also swap input and output for bidirectional conversion with a single click.
Features
Fast Encoding
Encode and decode Unicode instantly with no registration or limits. Completely free to use.
Auto-Calculate
Automatically update the output as you type for real-time Unicode conversion.
Multilingual Support
Full support for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and all Unicode characters.
Swap Input/Output
Quickly swap input and output for easy bidirectional conversion.
One-Click Copy
Copy the encoded or decoded result to clipboard with a single click.
Privacy First
All processing happens in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.
How to Use
Enter Your Text
Type or paste the text you want to encode or decode into the input editor on the left.
Select Mode and Format
Choose Encode or Decode mode, and select the output format (lowercase, uppercase, or CSS style).
Encode or Decode
Click Encode / Decode or enable auto-calculate for real-time Unicode conversion.
Copy the Result
Click Copy to copy the encoded or decoded result to your clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unicode encoding?
Unicode encoding represents characters using escape sequences in the format \uXXXX, where XXXX is the 4-digit hexadecimal code point of the character. For example, the letter "A" is \u0041, and the Chinese character "中" is \u4E2D. This format is widely used in JavaScript, JSON, and many programming languages.
Why would I need to encode text as Unicode?
Unicode encoding is useful when you need to represent non-ASCII characters in systems that only support basic ASCII. It is commonly used in JavaScript source code, JSON data exchange, CSS content properties, HTML attributes, and configuration files to ensure characters display correctly across different systems and encodings.
Can this tool handle Chinese characters?
Yes, this tool fully supports Chinese characters (and all Unicode characters). Chinese characters will be converted to their corresponding \uXXXX escape sequences. For example, "你好" becomes "\u4F60\u597D".
What is the difference between JavaScript and CSS Unicode formats?
JavaScript uses \uXXXX format (e.g., \u4E2D for "中"), while CSS uses \XXXXXX format (e.g., \4E2D for "中"). The CSS format can use 1-6 hexadecimal digits followed by a space if the next character could be confused as part of the code point. This tool supports both formats for maximum compatibility.
How do I handle characters beyond the Basic Multilingual Plane (BMP)?
Characters beyond the BMP (like emoji) use surrogate pairs in JavaScript's \uXXXX format, represented as two escape sequences (e.g., \uD83D\uDE00 for the grinning face emoji). This tool handles surrogate pairs automatically when encoding and decoding.
Is this Unicode encoder tool free?
Yes, it is completely free to use with no registration, sign-up, or limits. You can use it as many times as you need for personal, educational, or commercial projects.