URL Decode

URL encoding, also known as percent-encoding, is a method used to encode certain characters in a URL by replacing them with one or more character triplets that consist of the percent character "%" followed by two hexadecimal digits. The two hexadecimal digits of the triplet(s) represent the numeric value of the replaced character.

This encoding technique is essential because URLs can only be sent over the Internet using the ASCII character set. Since URLs often contain characters outside the ASCII set, the URL has to be converted into a valid ASCII format. URL encoding replaces unsafe ASCII characters with a "%" followed by two hexadecimal numbers. Characters that are not required to be encoded include alphanumeric characters and a few special characters that are safe to use in URLs.

For example, a space is encoded as "%20" and an ampersand is encoded as "%26". This ensures that the web server interprets the characters correctly without any ambiguity.

Here's why URL encoding is necessary:

• It maintains the integrity of the URL structure by ensuring that special characters do not interfere with the URL's interpretation.
• It allows for the transmission of characters that are not typically allowed in URLs, such as spaces and punctuation.
• It helps in creating web pages that can be accessed and read by different types of browsers and servers.