How to Make API Calls with Special Characters
Jan 8, 2026
Administration
Okta Identity Engine
Overview
This article describes how to make API calls with special characters in the API URI (from scripts, custom codes, Curl, even Postman, when it is necessary to use characters like ! # $ % & ' * + - / = ? ^ _, etc.) using an external decoder. It can be used for tasks like updating the user profile.
Applies To
- Administration
Solution
1. Use a URL encoder tool (for example, go to https://www.urlencoder.org/).
2. Add the desired filter and click on the encoder to UTF-8. Enter: Help Desk - Team & Manager.
3. Output: Help%20Desk%20-%20Team%20%26%20Manager.
4. Then add this output to the API Call URI, for example, if we want to run an API filtering by a Group name:
