Google Analytics · Tag Manager
From Classic Analytics to Google Analytics 4
Remove _setDomainName, _link and _linkByPost code, install the Google tag, and set up cross-domain measurement and unwanted referrals the current way.
Guides
Guides
Guides for every place where example-petstore.com or example-commerce-host.com ends up in real sites and code, grouped by task: fixing site settings, developing and testing, security, and background.
Fix your site settings
Analytics, structured data and Search Console settings copied from Google’s examples.
Structured data
The sitelinks search box and site names
What the search box markup with query.example-petstore.com did, why Google dropped it, and the WebSite markup to use today.
Search Console
Moving a site in Search Console
A complete site move with 301 redirects and the Change of Address tool, without example addresses in canonicals, sitemaps or hreflang.
Develop and test
API clients, mock servers and example values that never reach a stranger’s server.
APIs · SDKs
Configuring API clients and SDKs
Keep base URLs out of code, point them at the real service, and add a check that stops example addresses from reaching production.
Testing · APIs
Test against a mock API, not a placeholder
Develop and test against Prism, WireMock, MSW or json-server instead of an address that belongs to someone else.
APIs · OpenAPI
Looking for the Swagger Petstore?
The real base URLs of the Swagger Petstore sample API, working requests, the test key, and how to run your own copy with Docker.
Documentation
Example values that are safe to use
Reserved domains, IP ranges, AS numbers, MAC addresses, phone numbers and test cards for examples that stay harmless.
Security
When a key, token or password was sent here or committed to Git.
Security
Leaked credentials: what to do now
Keys, tokens or passwords were sent to an example domain. Revoke and replace them, with direct links to the revocation pages of common providers.
Security · Git
Removing a secret from Git history
A key was committed. Revoke it, remove it from the history with git-filter-repo, clean up GitHub and block the next leak.
Background
Where the name comes from, which names are reserved, and the terms used on this site.
History
The history of example-petstore.com
When and where Google used example-petstore.com and example-commerce-host.com, from 2009 to today, with archived sources.
Reference
Example domains
Which names are reserved for documentation, why look-alikes like this one get real traffic, and what to use instead.
Reference
Glossary
Short explanations of _setDomainName, linker, _gl, unwanted referrals, SearchAction and 410 Gone.