Understanding URL Encoding & Percent-Encoding
URL Encoding (also known as percent-encoding) converts characters into a format that can be safely transmitted over the Internet within Web URLs (RFC 3986).
Component vs Full URL Mode
- Query Component Mode (
encodeURIComponent): Encodes all characters except unreserved characters (A-Z,a-z,0-9,-,_,.,!,~,*,',(,)). Use this mode when preparing parameter values to be appended to URL query strings. - Full URL Mode (`encodeURI`): Preserves reserved URL structural characters like `:`, `/`, `?`, `#`, `@`, and `&` while encoding space characters and unprintable UTF-8 sequences.
Common Reserved Character Sequences
Space → %20
& → %26
? → %3F
/ → %2F
= → %3D
# → %23
% → %25
+ → %2B
Privacy Assurance: 100% of URL encoding and decoding operations take place inside your browser using standard JavaScript functions. No URL strings or parameters are transmitted off your device.