# Functions

<a id="decode"></a>

##  decode

▸ **decode**(encoded: * `string` &#124; `Uint8Array`*, prefix?: *[Prefix](_address_types_.md#prefix)*): `Uint8Array`

*Defined in [address/decode.ts:15](https://github.com/polkadot-js/common/blob/5585a16/packages/keyring/src/address/decode.ts#L15)*

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Default value |
| ------ | ------ | ------ |
| encoded |  `string` &#124; `Uint8Array`| - |
| `Default value` prefix | [Prefix](_address_types_.md#prefix) |  defaults.prefix |

**Returns:** `Uint8Array`

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