Discussion Ask HN: What is with the new URLs on facebook.com? Hi HN,I've noticed recently Facebook has started using URLs which seem to include encoded information.For example, this URL to Vice: https://www.facebook.com/VICE/posts/pfbid02XdVziPTwhmPU9XzBq...It's a pretty URL with some kind of hash at the end beginning with "pfbid."Whereas they used to look like basic sharded URLs: https://www.facebook.com/random.username/posts/1020832750980...Is this for more targeted tracking on posts and links being shared, a new sharding scheme, a combination of both, or something else entirely?Appreciate any insights the community can provide. 275 points thrusong 4 years ago 266 comments
I've noticed recently Facebook has started using URLs which seem to include encoded information.
For example, this URL to Vice: https://www.facebook.com/VICE/posts/pfbid02XdVziPTwhmPU9XzBq...
It's a pretty URL with some kind of hash at the end beginning with "pfbid."
Whereas they used to look like basic sharded URLs: https://www.facebook.com/random.username/posts/1020832750980...
Is this for more targeted tracking on posts and links being shared, a new sharding scheme, a combination of both, or something else entirely?
Appreciate any insights the community can provide.