Can URL parameters be captured without a question mark delimiter?

Summary

While the question mark ('?') is the standard delimiter for URL parameters, both experts and documentation confirm that web servers and frameworks can be configured to capture parameters using alternative delimiters or URL structures. This configurability, however, comes with considerations. Non-standard delimiters may cause compatibility issues with analytics tools, browsers, and ESPs, potentially impacting tracking, deliverability, and user experience. SEO may also be negatively affected. Custom parsing logic and thorough testing are often required to ensure proper functionality and compatibility when deviating from the standard.

Key findings

  • Standard vs. Custom: The question mark is the standard delimiter, but custom delimiters are possible.
  • Server Configurability: Web servers (Apache, Nginx) and frameworks (ASP.NET, Express.js) offer options for custom parsing.
  • Compatibility Risks: Non-standard delimiters can cause issues with analytics, browsers, ESPs, and SEO.
  • Doubleclick exception: DoubleClick uses ';' to delimit rather than '&'
  • Usability Issues: Non-standard URLs can lead to user confusion and a poorer UX.

Key considerations

  • Configuration: Properly configure servers, frameworks, and analytics tools to handle custom delimiters.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test across different browsers, devices, and platforms to ensure compatibility.
  • SEO Impact: Consider the potential negative impact on SEO and implement mitigation strategies.
  • Maintainability: Ensure custom parsing logic is well-documented and maintainable.
  • Best Practices: Consider adhering to standard URL practices when possible to minimize compatibility risks.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

While technically feasible to capture URL parameters without a question mark delimiter, it is generally not recommended. Servers can be configured to parse URLs using alternative delimiters, but this deviates from established standards and can lead to various issues. Using non-standard delimiters may negatively impact SEO, analytics tracking, browser compatibility, and user experience. It's crucial to ensure that analytics tools and servers are configured to handle non-standard delimiters if implemented.

Key opinions

  • Technical Feasibility: Servers can be configured to parse URL parameters without a question mark, using alternative delimiters or URL structures.
  • SEO Impact: Using non-standard URL structures can negatively affect search engine crawling and indexing.
  • Analytics Compatibility: Analytics tools may not automatically capture parameters when the standard question mark delimiter is not used, requiring custom configuration.
  • Browser Support: Some browsers might exhibit issues with non-standard URL parameter delimiters, potentially leading to data loss or incorrect behavior.
  • Usability: Non-standard URL parameter syntax decreases usability and can cause user confusion due to unexpected URL structures.

Key considerations

  • Server Configuration: Ensure the web server is configured to correctly parse URLs with non-standard delimiters.
  • Analytics Setup: Configure analytics platforms to properly capture and interpret parameters when a question mark is not used.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test the URL structure across different browsers and devices to ensure compatibility.
  • SEO Implications: Assess and mitigate potential SEO risks associated with deviating from standard URL practices.
  • User Experience: Consider the impact on user experience and provide clear and consistent URL structures.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Developer Forum user explains that some browsers might not correctly handle non-standard URL parameter delimiters. These browser issues can result in loss of data.

July 2022 - Developer Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that Doubleclick uses `;` to separate items instead of `&`. They clarify that anything before the first `#` should reach the server, but nothing following it.

March 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Marketing Insights Blog answers that while technically possible, using a question mark is a widely accepted standard for including parameters to a url. Not following this is poor practice and not recommended.

January 2023 - Marketing Insights Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from UX Site user shares that using non-standard url parameter syntax decreases usability as it is not what users expect and can cause confusion with unexpected url structures.

February 2022 - UX Site
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that while technically possible to use URLs without `?` for parameters, it's not SEO-friendly. Search engines expect the standard format, and deviating from it can negatively impact crawling and indexing.

February 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora shares that if you're not using the `?` delimiter, you need to ensure your analytics tools are configured to properly capture and interpret the parameters. Otherwise, you might lose valuable tracking data.

August 2021 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow user responds that while the `?` is conventional, a server can be programmed to parse URLs in almost any way imaginable. They share that you could use other characters or even rely on the order of the segments, though it's not recommended for maintainability or SEO.

January 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Webmaster Forum answers that while a question mark is the standard, it depends on the server configuration. Some servers might be set up to use other delimiters, but it's not universally supported and could cause issues with certain browsers or tools.

June 2021 - Webmaster Forum

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts agree that while servers can be configured to accept URL parameters without a question mark delimiter, using non-standard delimiters may cause compatibility issues. One expert indicates that web servers can be configured to handle alternative delimiters, while another warns that non-standard delimiters can cause issues with tracking and deliverability, particularly if ESPs or analytics platforms aren't properly configured. Sticking to standard practices is recommended for broader compatibility.

Key opinions

  • Server Configurability: Web servers can be configured to parse URLs with custom delimiters.
  • Compatibility Issues: Non-standard delimiters may cause compatibility problems with tracking and deliverability.
  • Analytics Impact: Third-party analytics may not function correctly with non-standard URL parameters unless specifically configured.
  • Tracking Issues: ESPs and analytics platforms may struggle with non-standard parameters if not properly configured.

Key considerations

  • Server Configuration: Ensure the web server is correctly configured to handle non-standard URL parameters.
  • Analytics Setup: Configure ESPs and analytics platforms to recognize and process non-standard URL delimiters.
  • Compatibility Testing: Thoroughly test how the altered URL structure interacts with various ESPs, browsers, and analytics tools.
  • Best Practices: Consider adopting standard URL practices to avoid potential compatibility and tracking issues.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks responds clarifying that the web server could be configured to accept something other than `?` or nothing at all as a delimiter. They suggest Doubleclick might be doing it this way on purpose, but the reason is unclear.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that using non-standard delimiters for URL parameters can cause issues with tracking and deliverability, especially if ESPs or analytics platforms aren't configured to handle them. She recommends sticking to standard practices for better compatibility.

October 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the web server owner can define whatever delimiters they want, so using something other than `?` is acceptable. They mention doing one-off stuff where the website's 404 handler figures out the response, but how it affects third-party analytics is unclear.

June 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
6Technical articles

Documentation indicates that while the question mark ('?') is the standard delimiter separating the URI from the query string, web servers like Apache and Nginx, along with frameworks like ASP.NET and Express.js, offer configuration options and tools (such as rewrite rules, custom regular expressions, and routing mechanisms) to parse URLs and extract parameters using alternative delimiters or URL structures. The Node.js 'url' module expects the standard format, necessitating custom parsing logic for non-standard URLs.

Key findings

  • Standard Delimiter: The question mark ('?') is the standard delimiter for URL parameters.
  • Server Configuration: Web servers like Apache and Nginx can be configured to handle alternative delimiters.
  • Framework Flexibility: Frameworks like ASP.NET and Express.js provide mechanisms to define URL patterns without relying on the '?' delimiter.
  • Node.js Handling: The Node.js 'url' module expects the standard format and requires custom logic for non-standard URLs.

Key considerations

  • Configuration Complexity: Configuring web servers and frameworks to handle non-standard delimiters may require advanced configuration and custom logic.
  • Module Limitations: Built-in modules like Node.js's 'url' module might not support non-standard formats out-of-the-box, requiring custom parsing solutions.
  • Maintainability: Custom URL parsing logic should be well-documented and maintained to ensure long-term stability and understandability.
  • Standard Compliance: Consider the implications of deviating from the standard URL format on compatibility and interoperability.
Technical article

Documentation from ietf.org explains that the question mark (`?`) separates the URI from the query string. The query string consists of name-value pairs, and while the question mark is the standard delimiter, servers can be configured to handle other delimiters.

August 2024 - ietf.org
Technical article

Documentation from Express.js explains that Express.js allows for defining routes with parameters directly in the URL path, without using the `?` delimiter. These parameters can be accessed within the route handler.

October 2024 - Expressjs.com
Technical article

Documentation from Apache.org explains that using rewrite rules, web servers like Apache can be configured to accept different delimiters for URL parameters. You can define rules that parse URLs without a question mark, using other characters or patterns to identify parameters.

July 2022 - Apache.org
Technical article

Documentation from Nginx.org explains that using Nginx's configuration, you can define custom regular expressions to parse URLs and extract parameters, even if they don't follow the standard `?` and `&` format. This allows for flexible URL structures tailored to specific application needs.

September 2021 - Nginx.org
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft.com explains that ASP.NET routing allows you to define URL patterns that don't necessarily follow the standard query string format. You can map URLs to specific actions without relying on the `?` delimiter.

August 2021 - Microsoft.com
Technical article

Documentation from Node.js explains that the `url` module provides functions for parsing URLs, but it expects the standard format with a `?` delimiter. For non-standard URLs, you might need to use custom parsing logic.

January 2025 - nodejs.org