Missing Request parameters with UTF-8 when javascript escape() is used

Question

I am using jquery ajax api to submit (POST/GET) a text as parameter to a processing page.

<input type="text" id="txtboxdata" name="txtboxdata" >

var dataString = "tmpVar="+ escape( $("#txtboxdata").val() );
$.ajax({ type: "POST", 
                  url: "processing.jsp",
                  data: dataString ,
                  dataType: "json",
                  success: function(){}
        });

//dataString holds the parameter and value to be passed. Value is retrieved from a text box.

If the text box

contains UTF-8 characters
and
apply the javascript "escape" on the text box value

then the parameter tmpVar goes disappears from the request object in the processing page(processing.jsp).

I used the debugger, and checked the request object. The parameter called "tmpVar" never shows up.

This works correctly when the following conditions are met
tmpVar shows up in the request object of processing.jsp when

there are no UTF-8 characters.
I do not apply "escape" before making the ajax call.

My Question I would like to understand why does applying escape on a text containing UTF-8 not show up in the request object?

PS: I used "form serialize()" to solve the problem, just trying to understand why the issue occured.

Firebug: looks fine, this always shows up correctly. No missing data before the actual POST/GET.

What does the HTTP request look like when sending the request that results in the tmpVar variable not being seen? Use Firebug or Chrome to capture these and post them — matt b
– matt b, Commented Jun 2, 2011 at 13:51

SLaks · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-02 13:51:31Z

1

You should call encodeURIComponent instead.

answered Jun 2, 2011 at 13:51

SLaks

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1 Comment

kensen john Over a year ago

thank you for providing the alternate method. This made me do some research and I found a good explanation.

kensen john · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-02 14:08:01Z

1

Using the answer provided by @SLaks did some more research and found a satisfactory answer.

Explains why "escape" shouldn't be used and compares it with other method which can be used.

encodeURIComponent()
encodeURI()

http://xkr.us/articles/javascript/encode-compare/

answered Jun 2, 2011 at 14:08

kensen john

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