title: Regex: URL Encoding strange characters
body: <p>I have been given a Regex to work with that validates telephone numbers. The problem is that Regex has parts URL Encoded.</p>
  
  <pre><code>^([file://(%3f/+%3f%5b0-9%5d*/)%3f)%3f%5b0-9/-]\\(?\\+?[0-9]*\\)?)?[0-9\\- [file://(/)%5d%7b10,%7d%3f(%5bext%5d+%3f%5b0-9%5d%7b3,%7d)%3f$]\\(\\)]{10,}?([ext]+?[0-9]{3,})?$
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I tried to make sense of it and wasn't sure if I needed to decode those URL Encoded bits, but I tried and got this</p>
  
  <pre><code>^([file://(?/+?[0-9]*/)?)?[0-9/-]\(?\+?[0-9]*\)?)?[0-9\- [file://(/)]{10,}?([ext%5d+?[0-9]{3,})?$]\(\)]{10,}?([ext]+?[0-9]{3,})?$
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But this one is not validating of course having an opening <code>[</code> that doesn't close and other weird things.<br>
  So maybe it's the programing language that they are using that treats this differently?</p>