Query String

A query string is a part of a web page’s URL that contains data that doesn’t fit into the conventional path structure of the URL. In business intelligence and data analytics, query strings are used to filter and sort data on a web page. Imagine you’re shopping online and you want to see only red shoes. When you select ‘red’ on the website’s filter, the page reloads and the URL changes slightly to include a query string—something like “?color=red”. This tells the website to show you only the shoes that match your criteria.

It works in a similar way when it comes to analyzing data. A query string can be used to retrieve specific information from a database. For instance, an analyst could use a query string to ask for sales data from the second quarter of the year, or for customer details from a particular city. The query string in the database system works behind the scenes, narrowing down the sea of data to just the drops that are needed.

For BI professionals, query strings are a powerful tool. They allow for deep and detailed analysis by making it possible to ask precise questions of web-based data. This enables businesses to uncover insights and trends that are directly relevant to their goals. Query strings are the secret codes that unlock the right data out of the vast universe of information available.