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Where are your search history hidden? How do search strings make websites remember you!
In the process of browsing the website, each web page request may carry important information, especially the query string. These strings are parts of a web address (URL) that specify values for specific parameters and allow the website to remember user actions. When users fill out web forms or conduct searches, query strings play an integral role, making your query a part of the web content.
A query string usually consists of a base URL used by the client application or browser plus specific fields.
There is no uniform standard for the structure of query strings, but generally speaking, a typical URL containing a query string looks like this:
https://example.com/over/there?name=ferret
When the server receives a request, it may run a program and pass a query string (for example: name=ferret) into the program. In particular, the question mark (?) is used to distinguish the path part of the URL from the query string.
Query strings can be used to track user behavior, similar to HTTP cookies, and are recorded in server log files.
Various forms of query strings
One of the most common uses of query strings is to submit data through forms. In an HTML form, when a user submits a form with fields, the contents of these fields will be encoded into query strings, such as:
field1=value1&field2=value2&field3=value3
The field names and values are separated by an equal sign (=), and each pair of fields is separated by an ampersand (&). When submitting using the GET method, all query content is encoded into the URL, while the POST method wraps the data in the body of the request.
The importance of URL encoding
In URLs, some characters cannot be used directly, such as spaces. To solve this problem, URL encoding encodes certain characters. For example, spaces are encoded as a plus sign (+) or '%20'. Therefore, when a form contains these non-convertible characters, proper encoding is crucial.
Effective URL encoding not only ensures that data is delivered correctly, but also avoids potential errors and security attacks.
Query strings and user tracking
Query strings help websites track user behavior. Each time the user clicks a link on a page, this query string will follow the journey. For example, a URL might be foo.html?e0a72cb2a2c7, which provides a unique identifier via a query string that lets the website know which page the user is viewing. This type of tracking differs from cookies because the query string is part of the URL, whereas cookies are information stored in the browser.
Web page compatibility issues
Although query strings provide a convenient way to track users, they also have limitations in their use. For example, when a URL is too long, it can result in an HTTP 414 error, which is related to the maximum length of the request. Therefore, it is generally recommended to use the POST method to handle large amounts of data.
These limitations prompt developers to carefully consider the pros and cons of using the GET or POST methods in different scenarios.
Conclusion: Have you ever thought about whether your search history is really safe?
In the Internet world, query strings are not only a carrier of data, but also a tool for websites to remember users. Although query strings meet many needs, user privacy and security are still issues that we should pay attention to. In this context, how to properly manage and protect personal data poses new challenges. When we freely explore the Internet, have you ever considered the relationship between your search history and privacy?
