URL encoding converts characters into a format that avoid getting in trouble if a parameter has for example & ampersant. This can happen with many other characters.
BUT ! When you get a url parameter and you assume that it is url encoded, you take the value and do url decode. This will work. But if the url is not encoded, as long as it does not carry any special character the url decode works. If url has a special character and you do url decode, strange things come out of the special characters.
Codber 