HTML form: output # as part of URL

Question

If YZ56765ZX is entered into the input field, the form should generate the following URL:

http://www.example.com/quick-access/?track-code#trackingIds=YZ56765ZX

The form:

<form enctype="text/plain" action="http://www.example.com/quick-access/">
    <input type="text" name="track-code#trackingIds" id="keys" />
    <button type="submit">Search</button>
</form>

The problem is that I am unable to generate a URL that includes the: # character. The # will become %23 instead.

What are you using to generate the URL? What programming language? Do you have a program that you have now that is generating HTML that is not doing what you want? — Andy Lester, Mar 26 '15 at 03:23
Do you have control at the receiving end? The url encoding can be reversed by the receiver to get the %23 converted back to #. — Always Learning, Mar 26 '15 at 03:26
`website.com` is external website not under my control. This html form for check tracking code. — apasajja, Mar 26 '15 at 06:32

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 07 '21 at 06:11

I think you can't use these kind of reserved symbols. Consider reading "Reserved Characters" (RFC 3986).

You can still try something like this JSFiddle.

document.getElementsByTagName('form')[0].onsubmit = function() {
    this.action += '?track-code#trackingIds=' + this.keys.value;
}

<form enctype="text/plain" action="http://www.example.com/quick-access/">
    <input type="text" id="keys" />
    <button type="submit">Search</button>
</form>

HTML form: output # as part of URL

1 Answers1