/index?var=value vs. /?var=value syntax

[marcnyc]

Can somebody explain me if there is a difference between url-encoding links like this:

http://www.mydomain.com/index?var=value

and like this:

http://www.mydomain.com/?var=value

What are the differences? Is one wrong? What are the drawbacks?

Thanks

[wazo00]

Both are the same. When you don't include a file, like:

http://www.mydomain.com/

It will usually default to an index or default file. This depends on how the server is setupped.

[marcnyc]

thank you for clarifying this to me

[devinemke]

be advised: that type of shortcut will not work on IIS (with the default setup).

[marcnyc]

What is IIS? Isn't that some Microsoft thing? I am on a Unix server... if you are mentioning this for portability I appreciate but I would never downgrade from a nix server to a ms one.