URL variables are variables which can be filled by setting a value within the URL to the survey. These variables are named with a number. It’s not possible to change these names. There are 20 default URL variables available and one special tpuid variable (more about tpuid):
- UrlVar01
- UrlVar02
- UrlVar03
- …
- UrlVar19
- UrlVar20
To set a value for a URL variable, a survey link would look like this:
Let’s break it down:
- Everything before the question mark (?) is your regular survey link.
- The first parameter always comes after the question mark (?), by default Survalyzer adds a language parameter.
- Multiple parameters are separated with an ampersand (&), so for the URL variable you would extend the URL with &urlvar01=example.
The video below will show you how to work with URL variables:
You can easily create correct survey links with URL variables with the following tool:
Please note that if you remove the language parameter, it can still work, but then the first URL variable comes after the question mark (?)
Multiple URL variables can be added by extending the URL with &urlvar02=example2&urlvar03=example3 etc.
Use cases
URL variables are mainly used for 2 purposes:
- Retrieving information from a URL
Example use cases include:
– Tracking the source of the respondents (e.g. website, socials, internal portal)
– Pre-capturing answers before a respondent enters the survey (Csat email, buttons on websites)
– Capturing IDs or information from external tools (CRM system, External panel providers) - Attaching information to a URL (forwarding)
It is also possible to use URL forwarding in Survalyzer, where you can attach information to a URL. Use cases include:
– Forwarding a respondent to another survey including relevant information.
– Forwarding to an external website (e.g. External panel provider)
URL Variables can be used for filters and as placeholders.
URL Variables are stored and treated as text. If you want to use them in survey as numbers (e.g. to “pre-fill” one of the questions with value from URL Variable), you need to convert text to number using parseNumber() function in a value assignment. For instance to set the value for question q1 based on urlvar01:
Read more about data transformation and how to use it here: Value Assignment functions: Data transformation