Title: [img] shortcode embeds URL encoding?
Last modified: August 22, 2016
---
# [img] shortcode embeds URL encoding?
* Resolved [Mizagorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mizagorn/)
* (@mizagorn)
* [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/img-shortcode-embeds-url-encoding/)
* Hi, I was wondering if anyone has seen this problem regarding URLs generated
by the [img] shortcode.
* For example, if this image is put in like this:
`[img]http://example.com/wp-
content/uploads/album/254/BW-Kal-600x600.png[/img]`
* The browser (at least Firefox) returns a 404 Not Found on the URL that is generated.
What’s funny is that if you look at the Page Source, it looks like this:
`
`
* which is fine! But, if you go to the Network tab of Firefox’s Inspect Element
window, then click on the 404 line for that image, then click on the “Edit and
Resend” button, the actual URL is this:
`http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/
album/254/BW-Kal-600%C3%97600.png`
* Very strange! If I manually edit the HTML to replace `%C3%97` with `x` (like
it is supposed to be), then the page will load the image.
* I found code in the `bbcodes.php` file in lines 487-502 like this:
* ```
public function shortcode_img($atts, $content = null) {
if (is_null($content)) return '';
if (!$this->_scope()) return $content;
$atts = $this->_atts('img', $atts);
$args = isset($this->shortcodes['img']['args']) ? $this->shortcodes['img']['args'] : array();
$args['src'] = $content;
if ($atts['img'] != '') {
$parts = explode("x", $atts['img'], 2);
if (count($parts) == 2) {
$args['width'] = intval($parts[0]);
$args['height'] = intval($parts[1]);
}
}
```
* So that is at least one place where it is trying to find an `x` so it can generate
the `width` and `height` attributes.
* I can’t figure out where else the URL for the image `src=` is generated.
* Any ideas?
* [https://wordpress.org/plugins/gd-bbpress-tools/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gd-bbpress-tools/)
Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
* Thread Starter [Mizagorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mizagorn/)
* (@mizagorn)
* [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/img-shortcode-embeds-url-encoding/#post-5874624)
* Chrome has the URL looking like this in its “Sources” tab:
* `
`
* Notice the **`& #215;`** (without the space so I could show it). That is the
HTML escape code for “times”. In other words, the ‘x’ in the image URL meaning“
by” is being replaced with ‘x’ meaning “times” (multiplication).
* So when I said “which is fine”, what I guess I meant was “it *looks* fine”. 🙂
* Thread Starter [Mizagorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mizagorn/)
* (@mizagorn)
* [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/img-shortcode-embeds-url-encoding/#post-5874743)
* Found the solution. Neither in GD bbPress Tools or bbPress itself. This is native
WordPress functionality. Thanks to the author of this plugin for a great job!
Here is what I posted to the WordPress “Suggestions and Features” forum:
———————————————————
Hi, I am using bbPress and GD bbPress Tools on an installation.
* With Tools, you can embed an image using a shortcode as such:
`[img]http://example.
com/wp-content/uploads/album/171/BW-600×600.png[/img]`
* The “x” above was being replaced by the escape code for “times” `& #215;` (without
the space, of course).
* I thought it was Tools making the conversion, because the HTML for the reply
within the admin area was correct (with the “x”).
* Deactivated Tools, still happening (although the image shortcode was no longer
being called, of course).
* Then I looked through bbPress code, then wound up in the Codex. Saw a suggestion
in an article about sanitizing and escaping user data to take a look at how `
formatting.php` works, and saw this on lines 290-294:
* ```
// 9x9 (times), but never 0x9999
if ( 1 === preg_match( '/(?<=\d)x\d/', $curl ) ) {
// Searching for a digit is 10 times more expensive than for the x, so we avoid doing this one!
$curl = preg_replace( '/\b(\d(?(?<=0)[\d\.,]+|[\d\.,]*))x(\d[\d\.,]*)\b/', '$1×$2', $curl );
}
```
* That section of code is changing the “x” (meaning “by”) to the symbol “×” (meaning“
times”). I just commented out those lines on this particular installation and
problem solved.
* **Suggestion: extend `preg_match` or add code to see if “x” is contained within
a file name in the multiplication test logic.**
* Thank you!
* Thread Starter [Mizagorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mizagorn/)
* (@mizagorn)
* [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/img-shortcode-embeds-url-encoding/#post-5874745)
* Marked as resolved.
Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
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* 
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## Tags
* [encoding](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/encoding/)
* [img](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/img/)
* [not-found](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/not-found/)
* [shortcode](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/shortcode/)
* [url](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/url/)
* 3 replies
* 1 participant
* Last reply from: [Mizagorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mizagorn/)
* Last activity: [11 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/img-shortcode-embeds-url-encoding/#post-5874745)
* Status: resolved