escape

The deprecated escape() function computes a new string in which certain characters have been replaced by a hexadecimal escape sequence. Use encodeURI or encodeURIComponent instead.

Syntax

escape(str)

Parameters

str

A string to be encoded.

Return value

A new string in which certain characters have been escaped.

Description

The escape function is a property of the global object. Special characters are encoded with the exception of: @*_+-./

The hexadecimal form for characters, whose code unit value is 0xFF or less, is a two-digit escape sequence: %xx. For characters with a greater code unit, the four-digit format %uxxxx is used.

Examples

escape('abc123');     // "abc123"
escape('äöü');        // "%E4%F6%FC"
escape('ć');          // "%u0107"

// special characters
escape('@*_+-./');    // "@*_+-./"

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262)	Standard	Initial definition.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262) The definition of 'escape' in that specification.	Standard	Defined in the (informative) Compatibility Annex B
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'escape' in that specification.	Standard	Defined in the (normative) Annex B for Additional ECMAScript Features for Web Browsers
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'escape' in that specification.	Draft	Defined in the (normative) Annex B for Additional ECMAScript Features for Web Browsers

Browser compatibility

See also

• encodeURI
• encodeURIComponent