JavaScript URL Encoding & Decoding

JavaScript provides two functions for URL encoding: encodeURI() and encodeURIComponent(). In this guide, we'll compare their purposes and highlight the key differences between them.

The encodeURI() function encodes a URL except for certain special characters that define its structure. It is primarily used to encode entire URL strings.

The encodeURIComponent() function is used to safely encode characters in specific parts of a URL, such as query parameters, file names, or search terms.

JavaScript provides two functions for URL decoding: decodeURI() and decodeURIComponent(). In this guide, we'll compare their purposes and highlight the key differences between them.

The decodeURI() function is used to decode a URL that was encoded using encodeURI(). It decodes only the special characters encoded by encodeURI().

The decodeURIComponent() function is used to decode a URL that was encoded using encodeURIComponent(). It decodes only the special characters encoded by encodeURIComponent().