def url_encode(url):
    """
    Convert special characters using %xx escape.

    :param url: str
    :return: str - encoded url
    """
    if isinstance(url, text_type):
        url = url.encode('utf8')
    return quote(url, ':/%?&=')
Convert special characters using %xx escape.

    :param url: str
    :return: str - encoded url