How can I replace all special characters in a URL, using a Java regular expression?

Question

I'm trying use regular expression to convert special characters in an url. Here's my sample code :

String formatUrl = "index.php?title=Test/enu/test/Tips_%26_Tricks/Tips_and_Tricks";
formatUrl = formatUrl.replaceAll("[^a-zA-Z0-9]" , "-");

What I'm trying to do is to convert the special characters in the url such as ?_%. to "-" excluding "/".

The regular expression in my code converts everything resulting the output as

index-php-title-Test-enu-test-Tips--26-Tricks-Tips-and-Tricks

But I want it to be

index-php-title-Test/enu/test/Tips--26-Tricks/Tips-and-Tricks

Any pointers will be appreciated.

Answer 1

You could just add your / into the regex:

"[^a-zA-Z0-9/]"

Answer 2

formatUrl = formatUrl.replaceAll("[^a-zA-Z0-9/]" , "-");