Ask HN: HTTP Path vs. Query Parameters

2 points by lunch 7 years ago | 3 comments

What sort of design considerations might sites like YouTube use when deciding between path or query parameters for identifying resources?

For example, YouTube uses a query param 'v' to specify a video id:

  youtube.com/watch?v=<video_id>

Instead of sticking it in the path:

  youtube.com/watch/<video_id>

nonsapreiche 7 years ago |

I use the first if video_id can not fit in a hierarchical model

highhedgehog 7 years ago | |

Can you elaborate, I am interested? What do you mean by "if video_id cannot fit in a hierarchical model"?

nonsapreiche 7 years ago | | |

Like a matrix versus a tree