How to Read an Undecoded URL from a Servlet in Java?

How can I read an undecoded URL from a servlet in Java?

String requestURL = request.getRequestURL().toString();

Reading an undecoded URL from a servlet can involve various methods depending on how you want to handle the input. The key part is ensuring that you manipulate the string properly to extract the needed components without Java's automatic URL decoding.

String originalURL = request.getRequestURL().toString();
String queryString = request.getQueryString();
if (queryString != null) {
    originalURL += "?" + queryString;
}

Causes

• Servlet container automatically decodes URL-encoded characters, affecting how URLs are interpreted.
• If you are manipulating paths or parameters manually, make sure to capture the original URL before any decoding takes place.

Solutions

• Use `request.getRequestURL()` to get the complete URL as a string without decoding.
• To fetch specific parameters, use `request.getParameterMap()` but beware of default decoding behavior.

Mistake: Assuming `getRequestURI()` will return the undecoded URL.

Solution: Use `getRequestURL()` for the complete URL.

Mistake: Ignoring URL encoding in the query string during URL generation.

Solution: Always validate and properly handle URL encoding when crafting URLs.