Revision 941603 of escape()

<div>{{jsSidebar("Objects")}}</div>

<p>The deprecated <code><strong>escape()</strong></code> method computes a new string in which certain characters have been replaced by a hexadecimal escape sequence. Use {{jsxref("encodeURI")}} or {{jsxref("encodeURIComponent")}} instead.</p>

<h2 id="Syntax">Syntax</h2>

<pre class="syntaxbox">
<code>escape(str)</code></pre>

<h3 id="Parameters">Parameters</h3>

<dl>
 <dt><code>str</code></dt>
 <dd>A string to be encoded.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Description">Description</h2>

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

<p>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 %<strong>u</strong>xxxx is used.</p>

<h2 id="Examples">Examples</h2>

<pre class="brush: js">
escape("abc123");     // "abc123"
escape("äöü");        // "%E4%F6%FC"
escape("ć");          // "%u0107"

// special characters
escape("@*_+-./");    // "@*_+-./"</pre>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Status</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES1')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES1')}}</td>
   <td>Initial definition.</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES5.1', '#sec-B.2.1', 'escape')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES5.1')}}</td>
   <td>Defined in the (informative) Compatibility Annex B</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('ES6', '#sec-escape-string', 'escape')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('ES6')}}</td>
   <td>Defined in the (normative) Annex B for Additional ECMAScript Features for Web Browsers</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<p>{{CompatibilityTable}}</p>

<div id="compat-desktop">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Chrome</th>
   <th>Firefox (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Internet Explorer</th>
   <th>Opera</th>
   <th>Safari</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div id="compat-mobile">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Android</th>
   <th>Chrome for Android</th>
   <th>Firefox Mobile (Gecko)</th>
   <th>IE Mobile</th>
   <th>Opera Mobile</th>
   <th>Safari Mobile</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>

<ul>
 <li>{{jsxref("encodeURI")}}</li>
 <li>{{jsxref("encodeURIComponent")}}</li>
</ul>