Serialization of `spaceDelimited` query parameter with a list of strings.

[iglosiggio]

The specification says that spaceDelimited should be used for array or object values. How should an space be escaped when serializing into this format?

Example

Given the array ["Hello World", "Nice to see you"] serialization of this value using the spaceDelimited style is not properly defined.

Options

• Hello%20World%20Nice%20to%20see%20you: Looses information
• Hello%20World Nice%20to%20see%20you: Doesn't follow from the examples on the spec
• Hello World%20Nice to see you: Is not valid as a query parameter. If we URLEncode again then the separator ends up URLEncoded twice.
• Hello%2520World%20Nice%2520to%2520see%2520you: Encodes the array items twice. I think this is the most reasonable option but it is a bit weird.
• Hello%20World%2520Nice%20to%20see%20you: Ecodes the separator twice.

[miqui]

@iglosiggio - let me stake a stab at this. I too agree this is not clear, so, I end up not using this part of the spec to describe the API. I have tried APIs like so: api/phrases?phrase=hello world&phrase=Nice to meet you

you'll end up wtih:
?paramName=Hello&paramName=Nice%20to%20meet%20you

and then have the API code roll up all the values internally into an array.

Here is another example: /authors?name[]=miguel&name[]=quintero

Again, this does not address your concern exactly, but perhaps it "gets you going".

I'll raise this during this week's community call.

[miqui]

@handrews - perhaps this one is a candidate (once we decide on the correct wording, etc) that could be migrated to MoonWalk. Thoughts?

[iglosiggio]

@iglosiggio - let me stake a stab at this. I too agree this is not clear, so, I end up not using this part of the spec to describe the API. I have tried APIs like so: api/phrases?phrase=hello world&phrase=Nice to meet you

I understand that. We are building some internal tools that expect to use API specs in order to make HTTP requests.

Here is another example: /authors?name[]=miguel&name[]=quintero

Is that the correct encoding for style=deepObject, explode=true?

I'll raise this during this week's community call.

Thanks!

[handrews]

@miqui this is just a clarification of what the existing spec means. It can go in a patch release (3.0.4/3.1.1) or even on the Learn site.

[darrelmiller]

We discussed this at the TDC meeting. Additional guidance is needed to let the developer know that they are responsible for pre-encoding parameter values so that characters do not conflict with the chosen delimiter.

[lornajane]

Fixed in #3723 and #3754 and #3755 (thank you @handrews !) so I'll mark this as resolved.