# URL Encode/Decode
# Encode Query String with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode()
$scheme = 'https'
$url_format = '{0}://example.vertigion.com/foos?{1}'
$qs_data = @{
'foo1'='bar1';
'foo2'= 'complex;/?:@&=+$, bar''"';
'complex;/?:@&=+$, foo''"'='bar2';
}
[System.Collections.ArrayList] $qs_array = @()
foreach ($qs in $qs_data.GetEnumerator()) {
$qs_key = [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode($qs.Name)
$qs_value = [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode($qs.Value)
$qs_array.Add("${qs_key}=${qs_value}") | Out-Null
}
$url = $url_format -f @([uri]::"UriScheme${scheme}", ($qs_array -join '&'))
With [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode(), you will notice that spaces are turned into plus signs (+) instead of %20:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22& complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
# Quick Start: Encoding
$url1 = [uri]::EscapeDataString("http://test.com?test=my value")
# url1: http%3A%2F%2Ftest.com%3Ftest%3Dmy%20value
$url2 = [uri]::EscapeUriString("http://test.com?test=my value")
# url2: http://test.com?test=my%20value
# HttpUtility requires at least .NET 1.1 to be installed.
$url3 = [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode("http://test.com?test=my value")
# url3: http%3a%2f%2ftest.com%3ftest%3dmy+value
Note: More info on HTTPUtility (opens new window).
# Quick Start: Decoding
Note: these examples use the variables created in the Quick Start: Encoding section above.
# url1: http%3A%2F%2Ftest.com%3Ftest%3Dmy%20value
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($url1)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my value
# url2: http://test.com?test=my%20value
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($url2)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my value
# url3: http%3a%2f%2ftest.com%3ftest%3dmy+value
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($url3)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my+value
# Note: There is no `[uri]::UnescapeUriString()`;
# which makes sense since the `[uri]::UnescapeDataString()`
# function handles everything it would handle plus more.
# HttpUtility requires at least .NET 1.1 to be installed.
# url1: http%3A%2F%2Ftest.com%3Ftest%3Dmy%20value
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($url1)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my value
# HttpUtility requires at least .NET 1.1 to be installed.
# url2: http://test.com?test=my%20value
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($url2)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my value
# HttpUtility requires at least .NET 1.1 to be installed.
# url3: http%3a%2f%2ftest.com%3ftest%3dmy+value
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($url3)
# Returns: http://test.com?test=my value
Note: More info on HTTPUtility (opens new window).
# Encode Query String with [uri]::EscapeDataString()
$scheme = 'https'
$url_format = '{0}://example.vertigion.com/foos?{1}'
$qs_data = @{
'foo1'='bar1';
'foo2'= 'complex;/?:@&=+$, bar''"';
'complex;/?:@&=+$, foo''"'='bar2';
}
[System.Collections.ArrayList] $qs_array = @()
foreach ($qs in $qs_data.GetEnumerator()) {
$qs_key = [uri]::EscapeDataString($qs.Name)
$qs_value = [uri]::EscapeDataString($qs.Value)
$qs_array.Add("${qs_key}=${qs_value}") | Out-Null
}
$url = $url_format -f @([uri]::"UriScheme${scheme}", ($qs_array -join '&'))
With [uri]::EscapeDataString(), you will notice that the apostrophe (') was not encoded:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar'%22& complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo'%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
# Decode URL with [uri]::UnescapeDataString()
Encoded with [uri]::EscapeDataString()
First, we'll decode the URL and Query String encoded with [uri]::EscapeDataString() in the above example:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar'%22& complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo'%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
$url = 'https://example.vertigion.com/foos?foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar''%22&complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo''%22=bar2&foo1=bar1'
$url_parts_regex = '^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?' # See Remarks
if ($url -match $url_parts_regex) {
$url_parts = @{
'Scheme' = $Matches[2];
'Server' = $Matches[4];
'Path' = $Matches[5];
'QueryString' = $Matches[7];
'QueryStringParts' = @{}
}
foreach ($qs in $query_string.Split('&')) {
$qs_key, $qs_value = $qs.Split('=')
$url_parts.QueryStringParts.Add(
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($qs_key),
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($qs_value)
) | Out-Null
}
} else {
Throw [System.Management.Automation.ParameterBindingException] "Invalid URL Supplied"
}
This gives you back [hashtable]$url_parts; which equals (Note: the spaces in the complex parts are spaces):
PS > $url_parts
Name Value
---- -----
Scheme https
Path /foos
Server example.vertigion.com
QueryString foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar'%22&complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo'%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
QueryStringParts {foo2, complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'", foo1}
PS > $url_parts.QueryStringParts
Name Value
---- -----
foo2 complex;/?:@&=+$, bar'"
complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'" bar2
foo1 bar1
Encoded with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode()
Now, we'll decode the URL and Query String encoded with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode() in the above example:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22& complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
$url = 'https://example.vertigion.com/foos?foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22&complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1'
$url_parts_regex = '^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?' # See Remarks
if ($url -match $url_parts_regex) {
$url_parts = @{
'Scheme' = $Matches[2];
'Server' = $Matches[4];
'Path' = $Matches[5];
'QueryString' = $Matches[7];
'QueryStringParts' = @{}
}
foreach ($qs in $query_string.Split('&')) {
$qs_key, $qs_value = $qs.Split('=')
$url_parts.QueryStringParts.Add(
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($qs_key),
[uri]::UnescapeDataString($qs_value)
) | Out-Null
}
} else {
Throw [System.Management.Automation.ParameterBindingException] "Invalid URL Supplied"
}
This gives you back [hashtable]$url_parts, which equals (Note: the spaces in the complex parts are plus signs (+) in the first part and spaces in the second part):
PS > $url_parts
Name Value
---- -----
Scheme https
Path /foos
Server example.vertigion.com
QueryString foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22&complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
QueryStringParts {foo2, complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'", foo1}
PS > $url_parts.QueryStringParts
Name Value
---- -----
foo2 complex;/?:@&=+$, bar'"
complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'" bar2
foo1 bar1
# Decode URL with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode()
Encoded with [uri]::EscapeDataString()
First, we'll decode the URL and Query String encoded with [uri]::EscapeDataString() in the above example:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar'%22& complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo'%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
$url = 'https://example.vertigion.com/foos?foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar''%22&complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo''%22=bar2&foo1=bar1'
$url_parts_regex = '^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?' # See Remarks
if ($url -match $url_parts_regex) {
$url_parts = @{
'Scheme' = $Matches[2];
'Server' = $Matches[4];
'Path' = $Matches[5];
'QueryString' = $Matches[7];
'QueryStringParts' = @{}
}
foreach ($qs in $query_string.Split('&')) {
$qs_key, $qs_value = $qs.Split('=')
$url_parts.QueryStringParts.Add(
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($qs_key),
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($qs_value)
) | Out-Null
}
} else {
Throw [System.Management.Automation.ParameterBindingException] "Invalid URL Supplied"
}
This gives you back [hashtable]$url_parts; which equals (Note: the spaces in the complex parts are spaces):
PS > $url_parts
Name Value
---- -----
Scheme https
Path /foos
Server example.vertigion.com
QueryString foo2=complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20bar'%22&complex%3B%2F%3F%3A%40%26%3D%2B%24%2C%20foo'%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
QueryStringParts {foo2, complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'", foo1}
PS > $url_parts.QueryStringParts
Name Value
---- -----
foo2 complex;/?:@&=+$, bar'"
complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'" bar2
foo1 bar1
Encoded with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode()
Now, we'll decode the URL and Query String encoded with [System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlEncode() in the above example:
[https://example.vertigion.com/foos](https://example.vertigion.com/foos)? foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22& complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
$url = 'https://example.vertigion.com/foos?foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22&complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1'
$url_parts_regex = '^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?' # See Remarks
if ($url -match $url_parts_regex) {
$url_parts = @{
'Scheme' = $Matches[2];
'Server' = $Matches[4];
'Path' = $Matches[5];
'QueryString' = $Matches[7];
'QueryStringParts' = @{}
}
foreach ($qs in $query_string.Split('&')) {
$qs_key, $qs_value = $qs.Split('=')
$url_parts.QueryStringParts.Add(
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($qs_key),
[System.Web.HttpUtility]::UrlDecode($qs_value)
) | Out-Null
}
} else {
Throw [System.Management.Automation.ParameterBindingException] "Invalid URL Supplied"
}
This gives you back [hashtable]$url_parts; which equals (Note: the spaces in the complex parts are spaces):
PS > $url_parts
Name Value
---- -----
Scheme https
Path /foos
Server example.vertigion.com
QueryString foo2=complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+bar%27%22&complex%3b%2f%3f%3a%40%26%3d%2b%24%2c+foo%27%22=bar2&foo1=bar1
QueryStringParts {foo2, complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'", foo1}
PS > $url_parts.QueryStringParts
Name Value
---- -----
foo2 complex;/?:@&=+$, bar'"
complex;/?:@&=+$, foo'" bar2
foo1 bar1
# Remarks
The regular expression used in the Decode URL examples was taken from RFC 2396, Appendix B: Parsing a URI Reference with a Regular Expression (opens new window); for posterity, here's a quote:
The following line is the regular expression for breaking-down a URI reference into its components.
^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^/?#]*))?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?
12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The numbers in the second line above are only to assist readability; they indicate the reference points for each subexpression (i.e., each paired parenthesis). We refer to the value matched for subexpression as $. For example, matching the above expression to
http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/ietf/uri/#Related
results in the following subexpression matches:
$1 = http:
$2 = http
$3 = //www.ics.uci.edu
$4 = www.ics.uci.edu
$5 = /pub/ietf/uri/
$6 = <undefined>
$7 = <undefined>
$8 = #Related
$9 = Related