What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding is a method of converting special characters in a URL into a format that can be safely transmitted over the internet. It replaces unsafe characters with a percent sign (%) followed by two hexadecimal digits representing the character's ASCII code.

How URL Encoding Works

URLs can only contain a limited set of characters, such as letters, digits, and a few special characters. Characters that are not allowed or have special meanings in URLs (like spaces or ampersands) are encoded into their percent-encoded equivalents.

Why Use URL Encoding?

URL encoding is essential for:

  • Encoding query parameters in URLs.
  • Ensuring safe transmission of special characters.
  • Handling spaces and non-ASCII characters in web addresses.

Limitations of URL Encoding

While URL encoding is useful, overuse can make URLs difficult to read. Additionally, improper encoding may lead to errors in web applications if not handled correctly.