Examples of poorly designed URLs

The following are examples of poorly designed URLs.

Example 1

http://www.dept.qld.gov.au/dds/search/openSeminar.do;jsessionid=G3J0DLxbVqpRJhbVpPST3xh3YLbpRz31Tyy7Wddhr3GYdT1vTCLT!2100740619?placeID=0&keyword=fashion&call_centre_mode=false&externalCallMode=false&breadCrumbsBase=%3Ca+href%3D%22%2F%22+title%3D%22Home%22%3EHome%3C%2Fa%3E&accredited=true&seminar_id=14442&seminarTypefilter=0&ins_spec=false

Issues	Principles
Too long Extremely unclear Not truncatable Clearly shows underlying technology Session ID present Not easily addressable Mixed case Contains numerous instances of punctuation, special characters, underscores Contains query phrases	Principle 1: Brevity Principle 2: Clarity Principle 3: Truncatable Principle 4: Technology independence Principle 5: Persistent Principle 6: Addressable Principle 8: Case Principle 9: Structure Principle 11: System identifiers Principle 12: Query strings

Example 2

http://www.dept.qld.gov.au/DOCUMENTS/CURRENT/D/DocumentAbcA67.pdf

Issues	Principles
Use of numbers instead of descriptive title Mixed case Temporal nature 'CURRENT'	Principle 2: Clarity Principle 5: Persistent Principle 8: Case

Example 3

http://www.qld.gov.au/dept/jobs/pathways/index.jsp?group=group&type= typea&title=job

Issues	Principles
Not clear Contains query phrases	Principle 2: Clarity Principle 12: Query strings

Example 4

http://www.jobs.qld.gov.au/search/joblist.asp

Issues	Principles
Not persistent Not addressable	Principle 5: Persistent Principle 6: Addressable

Example 5

http://seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=60&PageNumber =1&JobID=10124560

Issues	Principles
Not clear Mixed case Contains temporary identifiers	Principle 2: Clarity Principle 5: Persistent Principle 8: Case Principle 11: System identifiers

Example 6

http://www.qld.gov.au/resources_for_queenslanders/one_thing_or_another/

Issues	Principles
Contains underscores	Principle 9: Structure

Example 7

http://networks.silicon.com/webwatch/0,39024667,39161662,00.htm

Issues	Principles
Too long Use of numbers instead of descriptive title Shows underlying technology	Principle 1: Brevity Principle 2: Clarity Principle 4: Technology independence Principle 11: System identifiers

Example 8

http://www.support.department.qld.gov.au/qt/FORMSDAT.nsf/FORMS/QF2367/$file/F2367_es.pdf

Issues	Principles
Too long Use of numbers instead of descriptive title Mixed case	Principle 1: Brevity Principle 2: Clarity Principle 4: Technology independence Principle 8: Case Principle 11: System identifiers

Example 9

http://www.gamblingandracing.somestate.gov.au/Documents/Race%20Bookmakers%20Agent%20Licence%20Renewal%20Application%202007.rtf

Issues	Principles
Too long Mixed case Use of spaces in filename resulting in insertion of %20	Principle 1: Brevity Principle 8: Case Principle 9: Structure

Example 10

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c /services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=course_list&subChapter=327&subChapterInd=S®ion=us&subChapterName=Cisco+certification&country=us

Issues	Principles
Too long Mixed case Contains query phrases	Principle 1: Brevity Principle 8: Case Principle 11: System identifiers Principle 12: Query strings

Last updated:: 10 June 2021
Last reviewed:: 10 June 2021

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