URL encoding/decoding, DNS lookup, and network-related tools
Encode and decode URLs to ensure compliance and usability
Convert special characters to HTML entities with named, decimal, and hexadecimal formats to prevent XSS attacks
Escape and unescape strings between multiple formats including JavaScript, JSON, HTML, XML, CSV, SQL and more
Network operations and time handling are fundamental to distributed systems, APIs, and cross-timezone applications. This category covers essential network tools including timestamp converters for Unix time handling, timezone conversion for international applications, URL encoding for web safe parameter transmission, IP address validation and CIDR notation, serial port debugging for embedded systems, and timezone database integration. These tools are critical for API integration, time synchronization, network debugging, and international application development. Understanding Unix timestamp precision, timezone daylight saving time handling, URL RFC 3986 compliance, and IP address formats ensures reliable network communication and correct time handling across systems. This guide covers network standards, time best practices, and common debugging scenarios.
Convert between human-readable dates and Unix timestamps (seconds since 1970-01-01 UTC). Essential for API debugging, log analysis, and time synchronization.
Convert times between different timezones with automatic daylight saving time handling. Critical for international applications and scheduling across regions.
Safely encode URL parameters and special characters following RFC 3986 standards. Decode encoded URLs for readability and debugging.
| Tool Type | Features & Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Unix Timestamp | Seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. Timezone-independent, ideal for APIs and logs. Supports milliseconds (13 digits) and microseconds (16 digits). |
| Timezone Conversion | Converts between timezones with DST handling. ISO 8601 format (2024-01-15T10:30:00Z) for standards compliance. IANA timezone database required for accuracy. |
| URL Encoding (percent encoding) | Encodes unsafe characters as %HH hex pairs. Reserved: !#$&'()*+,/:;=?@[] → must encode. Unreserved: A-Z a-z 0-9 - . _ ~ → no encoding needed. |
| IP Address Validation | IPv4: 32-bit, 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. IPv6: 128-bit, hexadecimal notation. CIDR: network/prefix (10.0.0.0/8 = Class A private). |
| Serial Port Debugging | Monitor and analyze serial communication at baud rate 9600-115200. Hexadecimal and ASCII display modes. Essential for embedded systems debugging. |
| Port Scanner | Identifies open TCP/UDP ports on network hosts. Well-known ports: 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS), 3306 (MySQL), 5432 (PostgreSQL). |
Store all timestamps in UTC (Unix timestamp or ISO 8601 with Z suffix). Convert to user's local timezone only for display. Prevents DST and timezone conversion bugs.
Use timezone-aware libraries (pytz, moment-tz) for DST handling. Never calculate offset manually. Always use IANA timezone database, not fixed offsets.
Encode all user-supplied parameters in URLs. Avoid double-encoding. Use application/x-www-form-urlencoded for form data, multipart/form-data for file uploads.
Use regex or library validation, not simple string checking. Support both IPv4 and IPv6. Understand private ranges: 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16.
Check baud rate matches device configuration. Monitor for transmission errors and timeouts. Use flow control (RTS/CTS) for reliable communication.
Sync system time with NTP (pool.ntp.org). Check time sync status before time-critical operations. Allow for clock skew (typically <1 second) in distributed systems.