# Having semi-colon in query **URL:** \ **Category:** NGINX\ **Created:** [June 22, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565 "2010-06-22T21:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/1 "2010-06-22T21:08:14Z")
Hi all, I have a URL of the form: /abc?x=1&y=2;3. The nginx server passes the request to php-fpm thread. When I try to query for the value of ‘y’ I get ‘2’ instead of ‘2;3’. Is this expected? Are semicolons somehow considered to be query delimiters? Thanks, Ankur ---
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/2 "2010-06-22T21:52:08Z")
Hi Ian, So is it an nginx (or php-fpm?) bug that the value of ‘y’ shows as 2 instead of ‘2;3’? -Giri ---
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/3 "2010-06-22T21:29:53Z")
On 22/06/2010 20:07, Ankur G. wrote: > Hi all, > > I have a URL of the form: /abc?x=1&y=2;3. The nginx server passes > the request to php-fpm thread. When I try to query for the value of > ‘y’ I get ‘2’ instead of ‘2;3’. Is this expected? Are semicolons > somehow considered to be query delimiters? Hi Ankur, There is no standard for delimiter, only common practise. You can use what you like. The W3C has been recommending semicolon as a delimiter since 1994 or so. That said, sending ‘&’ so that it comes back as ‘&’ is common, correct, conforms to standards and expected by users and search engines. Regards Ian ---
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/4 "2010-06-22T23:26:24Z")
On 22/06/2010 20:51, Ankur G. wrote: > So is it an nginx (or php-fpm?) bug that the value of ‘y’ shows as 2 > instead of ‘2;3’? > Following the WC3 recommendations since 1994 is not a bug. 🙂 Its a php feature, controlled by an entry in php.ini. Find the line that contains ;arg\_separator.input = “;&” Remove the first “;” activate it and the second to only have “&” active. You might also check out the ';arg\_separator.output = “&” ’ line also. I use 'arg\_separator.output = “&” ’ Regards Ian ---
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/5 "2010-06-23T03:25:49Z")
Thanks a lot for your help, Ian! -Ankur ---
**Author:** ![ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@ankur](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ankur)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/having-semi-colon-in-query/190565/6 "2010-06-22T22:02:40Z")
On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 12:51:09PM -0700, Ankur G. wrote: > Hi Ian, > > So is it an nginx (or php-fpm?) bug that the value of ‘y’ shows as 2 > instead of ‘2;3’? nginx does not process query string. > > > ‘2’ instead of ‘2;3’. Is this expected? Are semicolons somehow considered > > > conforms to standards and expected by users and search engines. > > > [mailman.nginx.org archive](http://nginx.org/mailman/listinfo/nginx) > * * * > > nginx mailing list > [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) > [mailman.nginx.org archive](http://nginx.org/mailman/listinfo/nginx) – Igor S. > **[Igor Sysoev](http://sysoev.ru/en/)**