How Can I Properly Decode URL-Encoded Strings in Java?

URL Decoding in Java: Simplifying Encoded URLs

When working with web applications, we often encounter encoded URLs to protect sensitive information during transmission. Decoding these URLs is crucial for correct processing and manipulation of the data they contain.

In Java, you came across an encoded URL that you wanted to decode. Your initial approach, which involved converting to ASCII, was incorrect because it did not address the specific encoding scheme used for URLs: URL encoding.

URL encoding replaces unsafe characters with their percent-encoded counterparts. The ":" and "/" formats you observed are instances of this encoding scheme. To correctly decode URL-encoded strings, you need to use the java.net.URLDecoder class.

The updated code snippet provided in the answer uses URLDecoder.decode to convert the encoded URL into its original format:

String result = java.net.URLDecoder.decode(url, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);

Note that you can also use StandardCharsets.UTF_8.name() directly, as shown in the example code, to avoid catching UnsupportedEncodingException. This approach is more concise and eliminates the possibility of the exception being thrown.

By understanding the difference between character encoding and URL encoding, you can efficiently decode encoded URLs in Java and extract the desired information accurately.

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