How do I URL encode a string

Question

I have a URL string (NSString) with spaces and & characters. How do I url encode the entire string (including the & ampersand

Answer 1

In Swift 3, please try out below:

let stringURL = "YOUR URL TO BE ENCODE";
let encodedURLString = stringURL.addingPercentEncoding(withAllowedCharacters: .urlHostAllowed)
print(encodedURLString)

Since, stringByAddingPercentEscapesUsingEncoding encodes non URL characters but leaves the reserved characters (like !*'();:@&=+$,/?%#[]), You can encode the url like the following code:

let stringURL = "YOUR URL TO BE ENCODE";
let characterSetTobeAllowed = (CharacterSet(charactersIn: "!*'();:@&=+$,/?%#[] ").inverted)
if let encodedURLString = stringURL.addingPercentEncoding(withAllowedCharacters: characterSetTobeAllowed) {
    print(encodedURLString)
}