What is URL Encoding and Decoding and How to use URL decode() using Python?
Hey Helen,
To clarify your query, URL encoding is the process of converting characters into a format that can be transmitted over the internet. URL decoding is the reverse process, converting encoded characters back to their original form.
In Python, you can use the urllib.parse module to decode a URL-encoded string using the unquote() function. Here’s a simple example:
import urllib.parse
# URL-encoded string
encoded_url = 'Hello%20World%21'
# Decoding the URL-encoded string
decoded_url = urllib.parse.unquote(encoded_url)
print(decoded_url)
This will output:
Hello World!
By using urllib.parse.unquote(), you can easily decode URL-encoded strings in Python.
To learn more about how to use URL decode(), follow the given blog below and gain practical knowledge.
1 Like
Having spent many years in software development, I often encounter URL encoding. URL encoding is used to convert characters in a URL to a format that can be transmitted over the internet. This is necessary because URLs cannot contain certain characters, such as spaces or special characters, which are reserved for specific purposes in a URL. For example, a space in a URL is encoded as %20, and a question mark is encoded as %3F.
Building on what Ian mentioned, understanding URL encoding is crucial for ensuring your URLs work correctly and efficiently on the web.
With my extensive background in web development, I can assure you that understanding URL decoding is equally important. URL decoding is the reverse process of URL encoding. It takes an encoded URL and converts it back to its original form. This is useful when you need to extract information from a URL that has been encoded. For example, if you have a URL like https://example.com/?query=hello%20world, URL decoding would convert %20 back to a space, resulting in https://example.com/?query=hello world
To add to Saniya’s example, here’s another way to use urllib.parse.unquote() in Python:
import urllib.parse
# URL-encoded string
encoded_url = 'Hello%20World%21'
# Decoding the URL-encoded string
decoded_url = urllib.parse.unquote(encoded_url)
print(decoded_url)
This will output:
Hello World!
By using urllib.parse.unquote(), you can easily decode URL-encoded strings in Python and work with URLs more effectively. Remember, mastering these small yet crucial techniques can significantly improve your web development skills.