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url_decode

Purpose​

url_decode transforms a URL encoded string into plain text. This transform unescapes a URL encoded string by converting each 3-byte encoded substring of the form "%AB" into the hex-decoded byte 0xAB. It returns an error if any % is not followed by two hexadecimal digits. Transforms downstream of this one will work with URL decoded strings. Unlike other transforms, this modification is one-way meaning that once the data is transformed, it will not be "re-encoded" when the data is re-inserted into the RRPair. It is typical to create a chain that decodes URL data using this transform and then re-encodes it using url_encode. URL encoding and decoding are split into two transforms so that you can decide when the re-encoding should take place.

Usage​

"type": "url_decode",

Example​

Example Chains​

req_body() -> json_path(path="user.encodedData") -> url_decode()

This will extract encoded data from the user object in the request body and URL decode it. Unless more transforms are added, the data re-inserted into the RRPair will be url decoded.

req_body() -> json_path(path="user.encodedData") -> url_decode() -> constant(new="foo") -> url_encode()

This will extract encoded data from the user object in the request body, URL decode it, replace it with the text "foo" and then re-encode it.

req_header(name="X-Encoded-Info") -> url_decode() -> json_path(path="email")

This will URL decode a header value and then extract the email field from the resulting JSON.

Before and After Example​

Configuration​

{
   "type": "url_decode"
}

Before (URL Encoded Values)​

  • Encoded Search Term: hello%20world%20%26%20special%20chars
  • Encoded Email Data: user%40example.com%3Fparam%3Dvalue
  • Encoded Product Name: product%20name%20with%20spaces

After (URL Decoded)​

  • Search Term: hello world & special chars
  • Email Data: user@example.com?param=value
  • Product Name: product name with spaces