URL Encode/Decode
Encode or decode URLs for safe transmission over the internet. URL encoding converts special characters to percent-encoded format.
Before Encoding
- hello world
- user@example.com
- 100% free
- a+b=c
After Encoding
- hello%20world
- user%40example.com
- 100%25%20free
- a%2Bb%3Dc
URL encoding, also known as percent encoding, is a mechanism to encode information in URLs. Since URLs can only contain a limited set of characters from the ASCII character set, any characters outside this set must be encoded using percent encoding.
This process converts unsafe or reserved characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. Each encoded character is represented by a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code.
When to Use URL Encoding:
- Passing data through URL parameters that contain special characters
- Handling user input that will be included in URLs
- Working with international characters in URLs
- Ensuring proper transmission of data in web forms
- API development and testing
Why do I need to encode URLs?
URL encoding ensures that special characters, spaces, and non-ASCII characters are properly transmitted over the internet. Without encoding, these characters could break URLs or be misinterpreted by web servers.
What characters need to be encoded?
Characters that need encoding include spaces, special characters like &, ?, #, %, and non-ASCII characters like accented letters, emojis, and characters from other languages.
Is URL encoding the same as HTML encoding?
No, URL encoding and HTML encoding serve different purposes. URL encoding is for URLs and uses percent signs, while HTML encoding is for HTML content and uses entities like & and <.
Can I encode an entire URL?
You should only encode the parts of the URL that contain user data or special characters, not the entire URL structure. Encoding the protocol (http://) or domain would break the URL.
What happens if I don't encode URLs?
Unencoded URLs with special characters may not work properly, could be truncated, or might cause errors in web applications. Some characters have special meanings in URLs and need encoding to be treated as literal text.