What does inurl:aspx really mean? Learn this easy trick to find specific ASP.NET pages online.

Understanding the "inurl:aspx" Search Operator

The inurl: search operator is a powerful tool used in search engines to refine search queries. It instructs the search engine to return only those results where the specified string of text appears within the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web pages.

What ".aspx" Signifies

The file extension .aspx indicates an Active Server Page Extended file. These files are web pages generated by Microsoft's * framework. * is a server-side web application framework designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages.

Using "inurl:aspx"

When you combine these, using the search query inurl:aspx, you are specifically asking a search engine to display web pages whose URLs contain the string ".aspx". This typically means you are looking for pages built with * technology.

Key applications and implications include:

• Technology Identification: It helps in identifying websites or specific pages built using the * framework. This can be useful for web developers, market researchers, or technology analysts.
• Targeted Information Retrieval: If you are looking for information that is commonly found on or hosted by * applications, this operator can help narrow down the search.
• Security Research (Vulnerability Assessment): From a security perspective, this operator, often combined with other specific keywords, can be used to find * pages. Security professionals might use such queries as an initial step in identifying systems for vulnerability assessment, looking for outdated or misconfigured * applications. It is crucial to note that such activities must be conducted ethically and with proper authorization.
• Content Discovery: Finding specific types of documents or functionalities often associated with * pages, such as login portals, specific forms, or data presentation pages.

Combining with Other Operators

The effectiveness of inurl:aspx can be significantly enhanced by combining it with other search operators and keywords. For example:

• inurl:aspx login - to find * login pages.
• site:* inurl:aspx - to find * pages only within a specific domain.
• inurl:aspx intitle:"admin" - to find * pages with "admin" in their title.

Considerations and Limitations

It is important to remember that:

• URL Rewriting: Modern web applications, including those built with *, often use URL rewriting techniques. This means that an * page might not have ".aspx" explicitly visible in its URL, even if it is an * page. The URL might be a "clean" or "friendly" URL.
• Not Exhaustive: Consequently, a search using inurl:aspx will not find all * pages on the internet, only those where ".aspx" is present in the URL indexed by the search engine.

Despite these limitations, inurl:aspx remains a valuable and precise operator for specific search tasks related to * web pages.