URL Encoding Guide: Why Encoding is Needed & How to Use It

What is URL Encoding?

URL encoding (also called percent encoding) converts characters into a format that can be transmitted over the Internet. URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character set. Characters outside this set or with special meaning must be encoded.

Why URL Encoding is Needed

Certain characters in URLs have special meanings. For example:

• ? - Separates the URL from query parameters
• & - Separates multiple query parameters
• = - Separates key from value in parameters
• # - Fragment identifier
• Space - Not allowed in URLs

If you want to use these characters as literal data (not special syntax), they must be encoded.

Common Encoded Characters

• Space → %20 (or + in query strings)
• ! → %21, " → %22, # → %23
• & → %26, / → %2F, : → %3A
• @ → %40, = → %3D, ? → %3F