What Is URL Encoding?
URL encoding, also called percent encoding, is a method of representing special characters in URLs using a percent sign followed by hexadecimal characters.
Why Is URL Encoding Needed?
URLs can contain characters that have special meanings or are not safe to transmit directly. Encoding converts these characters into a compatible representation.
Common URL Encoded Characters
| Character | Encoded Form |
|---|---|
| Space | %20 |
| ! | %21 |
| # | %23 |
| $ | %24 |
| & | %26 |
URL Encoding vs URL Decoding
URL encoding converts characters into their percent-encoded representation. URL decoding reverses the process and converts encoded characters back into their original form.
How to Encode a URL
You can use an online URL encoder to quickly encode text, query parameters, and other URL components.
Conclusion
URL encoding is an important concept for web developers because it helps represent special characters safely within URLs.