> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/intercept-studies/create-an-intercept-study/url-matching-in-intercept-studies.md). # URL matching in intercept studies Intercept studies are displayed to qualifying participants when they visit specific webpages. You’ll define where exactly you want your study to appear using the **URL** field on the **Intercept** tab of your study. {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Intercept URLs must begin with **https\://** and can only contain up to two wildcards (**\***). {% endhint %} ![](/files/40fa48d425738f26920e85c99aa378b5689907a6) ### Matching methods If you want your study to appear on a specific webpage, you’ll enter that URL here as it appears when you navigate to that page yourself. But if you want your study to appear on multiple pages, you can use wildcards (**\***) in your URL to represent variable text. For example, entering the URL ****\* will display your study on any page that begins with **** regardless of anything else that follows in that page’s URL. Use the table below to find the matching method that works best for common use cases, or refer to the sections below for a comprehensive list of options. We encourage you to start with [domain wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21E80M4PBTC3CME9T7Y) for the greatest chance of reaching enough Scouts. | Use case | Matching method | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I want to intercept anyone who lands on my domain, regardless of which page they visit. | [Domain wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21E80M4PBTC3CME9T7Y) | | I want to intercept people on a specific part of my website. | [Path prefix wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21GWQP3HW8AM8C5PV0Y) or [Middle wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21JMAZ4VM7T2Z8P2SKX) | | I want to intercept people who make any search query on my website. | [Query parameter wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21SM5Q3ZA147J1TM5F3) | | I want to intercept people who make a specific search query on my website. | [Exact query parameters](#h_01KH6VT21QYMABW7FG35PPRAAB) | |

I want to intercept people who use a specific keyword in their search query, regardless of what else their search query contains.
For example, anyone who searches for shoes, whether they search “tennis shoes”, “dress shoes”, or any other kind of shoes.

| **This use case is not supported at this time.** We recommend narrowing your intercept to use [Exact query parameters](#h_01KH6VT21QYMABW7FG35PPRAAB) or expanding your intercept to use [Query parameter wildcards](#h_01KH6VT21SM5Q3ZA147J1TM5F3). | #### Domain wildcards Displays your study on any page of a specific domain. The example URL ****\* will: | Match | Not match | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
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❌
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| #### Path prefix wildcards Displays your study on any page under a specific path. The example URL ****\* will: | Match | Not match | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
✅
✅

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❌
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| #### Middle wildcards Displays your study on any page that matches the start and end of a specific URL, regardless of what’s in between. The example URL **** will: | Match | Not match | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
✅
✅

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❌
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| #### Multiple wildcards Displays your study on any page that matches a specific URL except where the wildcards (\*) are placed. {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Keep in mind that an intercept URL can use a maximum of two wildcards. {% endhint %} The example URL ****\* will: | Match | Not match | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
✅
✅

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❌
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| #### Exact query parameters Displays your study on pages that match specific query parameters exactly. {% hint style="info" %} **Note:** Different sites use different language when handling search queries. For example, some sites use **query=** while others use **term=** or **q=**. We recommend conducting a search on your intercept site to verify which language to use in your intercept URL. {% endhint %} The example URL **** will: | Match | Not match | | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ✅ |

❌
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| #### Query parameter wildcards Displays your study on pages that include a specific query parameter, regardless of what that parameter’s value is. The example URL ****\* will: | Match | Not match | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
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❌
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| #### Multiple query parameters Displays your study on pages that have multiple query parameters, one of which requires an exact match and another that doesn’t. The example URL **** will: | Match | Not match | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
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❌
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| #### Ignored query parameters Displays your study on pages even if query parameters (or additional text) are present after your desired URL. The example URL ****\* will: | Match | Not match | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

✅
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❌
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| --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.dscout.com/intercept-studies/create-an-intercept-study/url-matching-in-intercept-studies.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.