What Characters should be avoided in URLS

To ensure that URLs load correctly and avoid issues like broken links, here are some characters you should generally avoid or handle with care:

Characters to Avoid:

• Spaces: Spaces should never be used in URLs. They are typically replaced with %20 when encoded, but it's best to avoid them altogether and use hyphens (-) or underscores (_) instead.
• Non-ASCII Characters: This includes characters with accents (é, à, ü), symbols (€, ©, ®), and characters from non-Latin alphabets. These characters need to be URL-encoded, which can make the URL longer and less user-friendly. If possible, stick to ASCII characters.
• Reserved Characters: Certain characters have special meanings in URLs and should be avoided unless they are used for their intended purpose. These include:
  • #  (fragment identifier)
  • ?  (query string delimiter)
  • &  (query string parameter separator)
  • =  (assigns values to query string parameters)
  • +  (represents a space in query strings)
  • %  (used for URL encoding)
  • /  (path separator)

Characters to Use with Caution:

• Uppercase Letters: While technically allowed, uppercase letters can sometimes cause problems, especially on case-sensitive servers. It's generally recommended to use lowercase letters in URLs.
• Hyphens and Underscores: These are generally safe to use for separating words in URLs. However, some systems might treat them differently, so it's best to be consistent in your usage.

Recommendations:

• Keep URLs simple and clean: Use lowercase letters, hyphens, or underscores to separate words.
• Avoid spaces and non-ASCII characters: If you must use them, make sure they are properly URL-encoded.
• Be mindful of reserved characters: Only use them for their intended purpose.
• Test your URLs: After creating a URL, always test it to make sure it works as expected.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that your URLs are well-formed and load correctly across different browsers and platforms.