How to Encode and Decode URLs in PHP?

Encode and Decode URLs in PHP

When creating web applications, it's essential to handle URL parameters effectively. For this, understanding URL encoding and decoding is crucial.

URL Encoding for Search Queries

To encode a search query, the ideal option is urlencode(), which converts certain characters in the query into their hexadecimal equivalents. This ensures that the query is transmitted securely over the network and interpreted accurately by the server.

Entire Query String Encoding

Encoding an entire query string with multiple parameters can be achieved using http_build_query(). This function separates parameters with ampersands (&) and encodes them using urlencode().

Difference between urlencode() and rawurlencode()

While urlencode() follows the application/x-www-form-urlencoded standard, rawurlencode() adheres to the Percent-Encoding standard. The key difference is how spaces are encoded: urlencode() uses " " while rawurldecode() employs " ."

Example Usage

To illustrate their usage, consider the following code:

$query = 'This is a search query';

// Encode the query using urlencode()
$encodedQuery = urlencode($query);

echo "Encoded Query: $encodedQuery<br>";

// Decode the query using urldecode()
$decodedQuery = urldecode($encodedQuery);

echo "Decoded Query: $decodedQuery<br>";

Output

Encoded Query: This+is+a+search+query
Decoded Query: This is a search query

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