# react-native: decodeVars
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/react-native/api/strings/decode-vars.mdx
---
title: decodeVars
description: API reference for the decodeVars() string function
---
{/* AUTO-GENERATED: Do not edit directly. Edit the template in content/docs-templates/ instead. */}


## Overview

Since `declareVar` adds ICU-compatible markers to source text, it can create issues for any existing string-processing logic.
The `decodeVars` function extracts original values from strings that contain `declareVar` markers.

```jsx
function getGreeting({ name }) {
  const greeting = "Hello, " + declareVar(name);
  // "Hello, {_gt_, select, other {Brian}}"

  const decodedGreeting = decodeVars(greeting);
  // "Hello, Brian" <- the string as if `declareVar` was never used
  return decodedGreeting;
}
```

Because `declareVar` only affects encoded strings, it is only meant for use with source strings and has no effects on translated strings.

<Callout>
**String Processing:**
Use `decodeVars` when you need to process strings that contain `declareVar` markers with existing string manipulation logic.
</Callout>

## Reference
### Parameters

| Name                  | Type | Description                                                                 |
|-----------------------|--|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `icuString`       | `string` | A string containing ICU markers from `declareVar` calls.               |

### Returns

A string with ICU markers removed, containing the original variable values.

---

## Example

### Basic usage
Extract original values from strings with variable markers.

```jsx copy
import { declareVar, decodeVars } from 'gt-react-native';

const encodedVar = declareVar(name);
// "{_gt_, select, other {Alice}}"
const decodedVar = decodeVars(encodedVar);
// "Alice"
```

### Multiple variables
`decodeVars` can be used with multiple variables.

```jsx copy
import { declareVar, decodeVars } from 'gt-react-native';

const name1 = "Alice";
const name2 = "Bob";
const encodedVar = "Hello, " + declareVar(name1) + "! My name is " + declareVar(name2);
// "Hello, {_gt_, select, other {Alice}}! My name is {_gt_, select, other {Bob}}"

const decodedVar = decodeVars(encodedVar);
// "Hello, Alice! My name is Bob"
```

---

## Notes
* Only use `decodeVars` when you need to process strings containing `declareVar` markers
* The function specifically targets ICU MessageFormat patterns created by `declareVar`
* Original variable values are preserved exactly as they were before encoding
* Does not affect translation processing - only removes markers for string manipulation
* decodeVars is not a general ICU MessageFormat parser and should not be used on arbitrary ICU strings

## Next steps
* See [`declareVar`](/docs/react-native/api/strings/declare-var) for marking dynamic content
* See [`declareStatic`](/docs/react-native/api/strings/declare-static) for creating static function calls
* See [`msg`](/docs/react-native/api/strings/msg) for string encoding and decoding patterns