Revision 941605 of unescape()

<div>{{jsSidebar("Objects")}}</div>

<p>The deprecated <code><strong>unescape()</strong></code> method computes a new string in which hexadecimal escape sequences are replaced with the character that it represents. The escape sequences might be introduced by a function like {{jsxref("escape")}}. Because <code>unescape</code> is deprecated, use {{jsxref("decodeURI")}} or {{jsxref("decodeURIComponent")}} instead.</p>

<div class="note"><strong>Note:</strong> Do not use <code>unescape</code> to decode URIs, use <code>decodeURI</code> instead.</div>

<h2 id="Syntax">Syntax</h2>

<pre class="syntaxbox">
<code>unescape(str)</code></pre>

<h3 id="Parameters">Parameters</h3>

<dl>
 <dt><code>str</code></dt>
 <dd>A string to be decoded.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Description">Description</h2>

<p>The <code>unescape</code> function is a property of the <em>global object</em>.</p>

<h2 id="Examples">Examples</h2>

<pre class="brush: js">
unescape("abc123");     // "abc123"
unescape("%E4%F6%FC");  // "äöü"
unescape("%u0107");     // "ć"
</pre>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Status</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES6', '#sec-unescape-string', 'unescape')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES6')}}</td>
   <td>Defined in the (normative) Annex B for Additional ECMAScript Features for Web Browsers</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES5.1', '#sec-B.2.2', 'unescape')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES5.1')}}</td>
   <td>Defined in the (informative) Compatibility Annex B</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES1', '#sec-15.1.2.5', 'unescape')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES1')}}</td>
   <td>Initial definition.</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<p>{{CompatibilityTable}}</p>

<div id="compat-desktop">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Chrome</th>
   <th>Firefox (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Internet Explorer</th>
   <th>Opera</th>
   <th>Safari</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div id="compat-mobile">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Android</th>
   <th>Chrome for Android</th>
   <th>Firefox Mobile (Gecko)</th>
   <th>IE Mobile</th>
   <th>Opera Mobile</th>
   <th>Safari Mobile</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>

<ul>
 <li>{{jsxref("decodeURI")}}</li>
 <li>{{jsxref("decodeURIComponent")}}</li>
</ul>