> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://docs.asksquid.ai/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# URL Pattern Matching

# Configuring URLs for Page Inclusion and Exclusion

Squid uses **full URLs, including the domain**, to determine where to include or exclude VisitorID identification. This ensures precise targeting, especially if you run Squid across multiple domains or subdomains.

By default, Squid identifies visitors on *all pages*. These settings allow you to focus identification on the pages that matter most for your business goals.

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## How URL Matching Works

When adding URLs to your **Page Inclusion List** or **Page Exclusion List**, Squid matches against the **full domain and path**.

For example:

* Adding `https://www.yoursite.com/pricing` matches exactly that page on that domain.
* Adding `https://blog.yoursite.com/*` matches all pages under your blog subdomain at the root, **BUT** not nested path segments like `https://blog.yoursite.com/blog/blog123`.
* Adding `https://blog.yoursite.com/**` matches all pages under your blog subdomain at the root **AND** nested path segments like `https://blog.yoursite.com/blog/blog123`.

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## Using Wildcards

Squid supports:

* `*` to match a **single path segment**
* `**` to match **multiple nested path segments**

### Examples

| **URL** | **Pattern** | **Match?** |
| ---- |
| `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123` | `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/*` | ✅ |
| `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/profiles` | `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/**` | ✅ |
| `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/profiles` | `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/*/profiles` | ✅ |
| `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/profiles/456` | `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/*/profiles/*` | ✅ |
| `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/profiles/456` | `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/*/profiles` | ❌ |

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### Wildcard Behavior

* `*` matches exactly **one segment** in the path.  
  For example, `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/*/profiles` matches `/projects/123/profiles` but **not** `/projects/123/profiles/456`.

* `**` matches **zero or more segments**, including nested paths.  
  For example, `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/**` matches any path under `/projects/`, like `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123'` `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/abc'` `https://www.yoursite.com/projects/123/abc/890`

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## Matching Domains

Because Squid requires the **full domain in your pattern**, always enter the complete URL including:

* Protocol (`https://`)
* Domain (`www.yoursite.com`)
* Path (`/pricing`)

For example:

✅ `https://www.yoursite.com/pricing`  
✅ `https://blog.yoursite.com/*`  
✅ `https://app.yoursite.com/dashboard/**`

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## Best Practice Decision

* Use **Inclusion** when you want to identify visitors only on a few specific URLs.  
* Use **Exclusion** when you want to identify visitors on most pages, except a few specific URLs.

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## ⚠️ Critical Note

||| 🚨 IMPORTANT: If the page inclusion list or exclusion list is activated and there are no pages listed, this will effectively turn off visitor identification entirely.

Inclusion List enabled with no URLs: No visitors will be identified because there is nothing to include.
Exclusion List enabled with no URLs: Identification happens on all pages as usual.

👉 Always ensure your lists contain URLs if enabled. If you are not using them, keep both settings OFF to continue identifying visitors on all pages.

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## 🔎 Additional Note

| Analytics and heatmaps always remain active, even if VisitorID is not identifying someone on an excluded or non-included page.  
 
These lists only affect visitor identification. All other tracking continues as normal.

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If you need assistance crafting specific URL patterns for your website structure, chat us up via the chat bot anytime.