What is URL encoding?

SUMMARY

• URL encoding is a universally accepted format (by all web browsers and servers).
• See how and why it's an invaluable TinyCC resource to help you achieve superior results.

URL Encoding (also known as percent-encoding), a universally accepted format (by all web browsers and servers), covers a process that converts reserved, unsafe, and non-ASCII characters in URLs. How? Initially, it converts the character to one or more bytes. Two hexadecimal digits preceded by a percent sign (%)—(e.g., %xy)—represent each byte. The percent sign is an escape character.

From TinyCC's viewpoint, URL encoding is an amazingly practical method for encoding URLs when they are sent through our API. GET parameters should be percent-encoded, ensuring the security and integrity of the data. When you submit URLs through the shortening form, we process and store them in an encoded format. We encode:

• Path part of URL (including file name) according to RFC 3986 - using %20 for spaces.
• Query string (only if using additional query params) according to RFC 1738 - using + for spaces.

• www.urlencoder.io has a good summary of the process.
• URL-encoded query strings using PHP.
• URL-encoded query strings using online form.