Editing masks for web resource addresses

Using a web resource address mask (also referred to as "address mask") may be useful if you need to enter numerous similar web resource addresses when creating a web resource access rule. If crafted well, one address mask can replace a large number of web resource addresses.

When creating an address mask, follow these rules:

  1. The * character replaces any sequence that contains zero or more characters.

    For example, if you enter the *abc* address mask, the access rule is applied to all web resources that contain the sequence abc. Example: http://www.example.com/page_0-9abcdef.html.

  2. A sequence of *. characters (known as a domain mask) lets you select all domains of an address. The *. domain mask represents any domain name, subdomain name, or a blank line.

    Example: the *.example.com mask represents the following addresses:

    • http://pictures.example.com. The domain mask *. represents pictures.
    • http://user.pictures.example.com. The domain mask *. represents pictures. and user.
    • http://example.com. The domain mask *. is interpreted as a blank line.
  3. The www. character sequence at the start of the address mask is interpreted as a *. sequence.

    Example: the address mask www.example.com is interpreted as *.example.com. This mask covers the addresses www2.example.com and www.pictures.example.com.

  4. If an address mask does not start with the * character, the content of the address mask is equivalent to the same content with the *. prefix.
  5. If an address mask ends with a character other than / or *, the content of the address mask is equivalent to the same content with the /* postfix.

    Example: the address mask http://www.example.com covers such addresses as http://www.example.com/abc, where a, b, and c are any characters.

  6. If an address mask ends with the / character, the content of the address mask is equivalent to the same content with the /*. postfix.
  7. The character sequence /* at the end of an address mask is interpreted as /* or an empty string.
  8. Web resource addresses are verified against an address mask, taking into account the protocol (http or https):
    • If the address mask contains no network protocol, this address mask covers addresses with any network protocol.

      Example: the address mask example.com covers the addresses http://example.com and https://example.com.

    • If the address mask contains a network protocol, this address mask only covers addresses with the same network protocol as that of the address mask.

      Example: the address mask http://*.example.com covers the address http://www.example.com but does not cover https://www.example.com.

  9. An address mask that is in double quotes is treated without considering any additional replacements, except the * character if it has been initially included in the address mask. Rules 5 and 7 do not apply to address masks enclosed in double quotation marks (see examples 14 – 18 in the table below).
  10. The user name and password, connection port, and character case are not taken into account during comparison with the address mask of a web resource.

     

    Examples of how to use rules for creating address masks

     

    No.

    Address mask

    Address of web resource to verify

    Is the address covered by the address mask

    Comment

    1

    *.example.com

    http://www.123example.com

    No

    See rule 1.

    2

    *.example.com

    http://www.123.example.com

    Yes

    See rule 2.

    3

    *example.com

    http://www.123example.com

    Yes

    See rule 1.

    4

    *example.com

    http://www.123.example.com

    Yes

    See rule 1.

    5

    http://www.*.example.com

    http://www.123example.com

    No

    See rule 1.

    6

    www.example.com

    http://www.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 3, 2, 1.

    7

    www.example.com

    https://www.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 3, 2, 1.

    8

    http://www.*.example.com

    http://123.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 3, 4, 1.

    9

    www.example.com

    http://www.example.com/abc

    Yes

    See rules 3, 5, 1.

    10

    example.com

    http://www.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 3, 1.

    11

    http://example.com/

    http://example.com/abc

    Yes

    See rule 6.

    12

    http://example.com/*

    http://example.com

    Yes

    See rule 7.

    13

    http://example.com

    https://example.com

    No

    See rule 8.

    14

    "example.com"

    http://www.example.com

    No

    See rule 9.

    15

    "http://www.example.com"

    http://www.example.com/abc

    No

    See rule 9.

    16

    "*.example.com"

    http://www.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 1, 9.

    17

    "http://www.example.com/*"

    http://www.example.com/abc

    Yes

    See rules 1, 9.

    18

    "www.example.com"

    http://www.example.com; https://www.example.com

    Yes

    See rules 9, 8.

    19

    www.example.com/abc/123

    http://www.example.com/abc

    No

    An address mask contains more information than the address of a web resource.

     

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