Understanding URL Encoding and Decoding

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a method used to safely encode characters inside a URL (Uniform Resource Identifier). Since URLs can only contain a specific set of allowed characters, anything outside that range—such as spaces, symbols, or reserved characters—must be converted into a safe, standardized format.

This encoding ensures that browsers, servers, and APIs correctly interpret the data being sent through the URL. For example:

• A space becomes %20
• An ampersand (&) becomes %26
• A plus sign (+) becomes %2B

Without encoding, these characters could break the URL or change its meaning entirely.

When Do You Need URL Encoding?

URL encoding is required whenever you're sending data through a URL—especially through GET parameters. If the data contains spaces, symbols, or special characters, it must be encoded to avoid breaking the structure of the URL.

For example:

If a user searches for “C++ Tools”, the raw text contains spaces and plus signs, which can cause issues in a URL. A properly encoded version would look like:

?q=C%2B%2B%20Tools

This ensures the server receives the exact search query without confusion.

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