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Internet requests to web sites are made through names that people can read and understand (e.g. https://wppopupmaker.com takes you to the Popup Maker web site). Web sites contain a lot of searchable information that are stored in databases.
If a web site has a lot of information, users need a way to search the site in a targeted way. A ‘query string’ added after a web address allows for a specific search within a site. Each separate search term in a query string is called an ‘argument’, and is preceded by a question mark (‘?’). A web site address can search on one or more terms or arguments.
Query String Arguments #
Here is an example of an imaginary web address that includes 3 arguments
https://www.online-store.com/?widgets&?colors&and?sizes
The argument are named ‘widgets’, ‘colors’, and ‘sizes’. [The ‘&’ separates the terms and is ignored by the browser.]
Applying ‘Query Argument Exists’ to Set a Popup Condition #
Using the Advanced Targeting Conditions plugin extension, you could activate a popup based on a query string argument that appears after a web address.
In the Conditions box, choose:
URL >> Query Argument Exists >> {argument-name}
Use an OR conditional if you want to add another query argument condition.
Query String ‘Name-Value’ Pairs #
Suppose you have an account at Popup Maker. You log in to retrieve and activate your plugin extension license. On the account login page, the following address appears in the browser bar:
https://wppopupmaker.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwppopupmaker.com%2
The query string argument are the characters that occur after the ‘?’;
?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwppopupmaker.com%2……….
Notice the equals sign between ‘?redirect_to’ and ‘https%3A%2A…..’ In this case, the name of the query string argument is assigned a specific value right in the web address! We call these types of query strings ‘name-value’ pairs. You might encounter other examples like:
https://www.example.com/?lang=de;
https://www.silly-walks.biz/?bar=foo&?product=green;
https://www.mad-hatter.org/?utm_source=click&?utm_medium=banner&?utm_campaign=launch;
Applying ‘Query Argument Is’ to Set a Popup Condition #
Using the Advanced Targeting Conditions plugin extension, you could activate a popup when a query string ‘name-value’ pair appears after a web address. This approach is more specific than the ‘Query Argument Exists’ condition described above.
In the Conditions box, choose:
URL >> Query Argument Is >>
{argument-name} // first input field
{argument-value} // second input field