The string to escape is not a valid UTF-8 string. #18763

Expected Behavior

Got this error, when accessing this url

/?module=Widgetize&action=iframe&moduleToWidgetize=Referrers&idSite=1&period=year&date=2022-01-20&actionToWidgetize=getKeywords&viewDataTable=table&filter_limit=5&isFooterExpandedInDashboard=1

The string to escape is not a valid UTF-8 string.
in /Users/bagduch/Work/php/matomo/plugins/Live/templates/_actionCommon.twig line 26          

It seems like there is a special URL

Current Behavior

Possible Solution

Steps to Reproduce (for Bugs)

1.
2.

Context

Your Environment

• Matomo Version:
• PHP Version:
• Server Operating System:
• Additionally installed plugins:
• Browser:
• Operating System:

@peterhashair I guess you are using UTF8MB4? could you check if those "broken" characters were stored broken in the database? Did you track them manually somehow or were the generated by the visitor generator plugin?

I got the same error on Matomo (v4.8.0)

The string to escape is not a valid UTF-8 string.
in /var/www/matomo/plugins/Live/templates/_actionCommon.twig line 25     

And I am using UTF8MB4, which I think is the default. I have migrated between two servers a while ago. But I keep the config file the same.

@ZE3kr Are you tracking any URLs that contain special characters?

@sgiehl: @ZE3kr Are you tracking any URLs that contain special characters?

Actually I am not sure. The only useful information on the error page is the one I put there. If I enable debug mode can I see whether I am tracking special URLs?

on my website there is no special urls. However it does not mean someone will not include special characters in the query string or to an non-exist page.