How to Remove Query Strings from Static Resources in HubSpot

Improving how your site handles cacheable assets is crucial for performance, especially if you rely on a CMS like HubSpot and external optimization tools. One frequent recommendation from speed audits is to remove query strings from static resources so that proxies and CDNs can cache files more effectively.

This guide explains what query strings are, why they appear in static file URLs, and how to work around them when your website is hosted on HubSpot or integrated with it.

What Are Query Strings on Static Resources?

Many CMSs, including HubSpot, append query strings to static files such as CSS, JavaScript, and image assets. A typical example looks like this:

• style.css?ver=1.2
• script.js?v=20240101
• logo.png?hs=1234567890

These query strings usually act as cache busters. When the file changes, the query value changes, signaling browsers to download the latest version instead of using an outdated cached copy.

Why Removing Query Strings Matters for HubSpot Sites

Some performance testing tools and caching solutions flag static resources with query strings as non-cacheable. While modern browsers cache many of these assets anyway, a few intermediate caches and proxies may ignore anything after the question mark. For HubSpot users focused on front-end optimization, this can impact:

• Page speed grades in third-party tools.
• Edge and proxy caching behavior for static resources.
• Perceived performance for repeat visitors.

Although HubSpot already handles a large portion of performance concerns via its infrastructure and CDN, you may still want to remove query strings in certain deployment scenarios, especially when you control a reverse proxy or additional caching layer in front of your HubSpot-hosted content.

Limitations of Removing Query Strings Directly in HubSpot

When you upload files to the HubSpot file manager or rely on theme and module assets, the platform generates URLs automatically. These links often include tracking or cache-busting parameters. Because this behavior is managed at the platform level, you cannot globally disable query strings from the HubSpot interface alone.

However, you can work around this by combining the HubSpot CDN with additional layers such as your own web server, reverse proxy, or external asset hosting. The idea is to serve certain resources without query strings while maintaining proper cache invalidation.

Strategy Overview: Using a Proxy in Front of HubSpot

The most practical way to remove query strings from static resources is to place a caching layer or proxy between your visitors and your HubSpot content. That layer can strip or rewrite query strings for specific file types before serving them to users.

This approach is especially useful if you:

• Use HubSpot as the CMS but host on a custom domain you control.
• Have access to a web server like Nginx or Apache in front of your site.
• Need stricter control over how assets are cached.

Step-by-Step: Configure a Reverse Proxy for HubSpot

The following high-level steps show how you can configure a reverse proxy to manage static resources while your content still lives on HubSpot.

Step 1: Point Your Domain Through a Proxy

1. Set your DNS so that your main domain (for example, www.example.com) points to your own server or edge platform.
2. Configure that server as a reverse proxy that forwards most traffic to your HubSpot-hosted domain.
3. Ensure HTTPS is properly configured on the proxy to avoid mixed content or redirect loops.

At this point, users hit your proxy first, and the proxy then fetches pages from HubSpot.

Step 2: Identify Static Resources That Use Query Strings

Next, review your pages and locate static assets that contain query strings:

• Use your browser’s developer tools network tab.
• Run a page speed test and note flagged URLs.
• Look for repeating patterns such as .css?ver= or .js?hs=.

List the file extensions you want to treat as static resources: typically .css, .js, image formats like .png, .jpg, .webp, and fonts.

Step 3: Rewrite URLs to Strip Query Strings

On your proxy or web server, create rules to strip query parameters from matching resource requests. The exact configuration depends on your stack, but the logic is similar across platforms:

• Match incoming requests for static file extensions.
• Remove or ignore everything from ? onward.
• Cache the resulting URL aggressively.

This way, users and intermediate caches see clean URLs, while your proxy still fetches content from HubSpot in the background as needed.

Step 4: Configure Long-Term Caching Headers

After you normalize URLs without query strings, configure your proxy to send suitable cache headers:

• Use Cache-Control with a long max-age for truly static files.
• Leverage ETag or Last-Modified headers, when appropriate.
• Consider separate rules for CSS/JS, images, and fonts.

Because HubSpot may still change resource contents over time, be sure to test how often those files change and set cache durations that align with your update process.

Managing Cache Busting with HubSpot

Removing query strings means you lose automatic cache busting for updated resources. To balance performance with freshness when working alongside HubSpot, consider the following techniques.

Option 1: Use File Name Versioning

Instead of relying on query parameters, use version numbers or unique hashes in the file name itself, for example:

• style.v1.css
• style.v2.css
• app.2024-01-01.js

When content changes, update the file name and references in your templates or modules. Browsers treat each file name as a new asset, bypassing the previous cached version while keeping older versions cacheable.

Option 2: Segment Third-Party Assets from HubSpot

If your main concern is third-party scripts or media, you can host those assets outside of HubSpot on an origin you fully control. Then:

• Serve them via your own CDN or web server without query strings.
• Use your own cache policies for JavaScript libraries, fonts, or external CSS.
• Embed them in HubSpot templates by referencing the external URLs directly.

This hybrid model lets HubSpot handle page content while your infrastructure manages the most critical performance assets.

Testing Your Setup with HubSpot Pages

After you apply proxy and rewriting rules, fully test your implementation:

• Open your HubSpot pages in an incognito browser window.
• Check the network tab to confirm static resources no longer include query strings.
• Verify that styles, scripts, and images load correctly.
• Re-run page speed tools and confirm that the warning about query strings is resolved or reduced.

Also test cache invalidation by updating an asset and confirming that new versions reach users when intended.

Best Practices for Performance on HubSpot

Beyond working with query strings, there are several additional optimizations you can adopt while using HubSpot:

• Minify and combine CSS and JavaScript where practical.
• Use modern image formats like WebP when supported by your workflow.
• Leverage lazy loading for below-the-fold images and embeds.
• Limit the number of heavy third-party scripts and tags.

If you need expert help configuring a proxy in front of your HubSpot content or designing an optimization roadmap, you can work with a technical SEO and performance partner such as Consultevo.

Learn More About Query Strings and HubSpot

For deeper technical detail on how query strings interact with caching systems and why many tools recommend removing them, review the original resource that inspired this walkthrough: remove query strings from static resources.

By combining a reverse proxy, careful URL rewriting, and smart cache policies, you can enjoy the flexibility of HubSpot while still delivering static resources in a way that satisfies strict performance guidelines and caching rules.

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