How do I add query parameters to a GetMethod (using Java commons-httpclient)?

Question

Using Apache\'s commons-httpclient for Java, what\'s the best way to add query parameters to a GetMethod instance? If I\'m using PostMethod, it\'s very straightforward:

Answer 1

It's not just a matter of personal preference. The pertinent issue here is URL-encoding your parameter values, so that the values won't get corrupted or misinterpreted as extra delimiters, etc.

As always, it is best to read the API documentation in detail: HttpClient API Documentation

Reading this, you can see that setQueryString(String) will NOT URL-encode or delimit your parameters & values, whereas setQueryString(NameValuePair[]) will automatically URL-encode and delimit your parameter names and values. This is the best method whenever you are using dynamic data, because it might contain ampersands, equal signs, etc.