What is the fbclid parameter?
fbclid stands for Facebook click identifier. When you click a link that leads out of Facebook or Instagram, Meta appends this parameter to the destination address. It's a unique value generated for that click: yours, on that link, at that moment. If the destination site runs the Meta Pixel, as millions of sites do, the site and Meta can then match your visit to your Facebook identity and to the ad or post that brought you.
What it looks like
https://example.com/article?fbclid=IwAR2xK9mQv3nY8dLpFw6hT1jUzGb4cE7sA0oXrN5iMhttps://example.com/articleThe value is long, random looking, and means nothing to a human. That's the point: it's a database key. Meta knows which click it belongs to, and the destination site's analytics hand the key back to Meta to close the loop between "saw it on Facebook" and "did something on our site."
Why it matters when you share links
The sneaky part is how it spreads. You click an article on Facebook, copy the address from your browser to send to a friend, and the fbclid rides along. Now your friend's visit gets filed under your click, and the link you posted in a group chat or forum is stamped with an identifier that traces back to your session. The same goes for gclid from Google ads and the rest of the click-ID family.
How to remove it
Delete the question mark and everything after it, unless the address has parameters that do real work, like a search query. When in doubt, delete the fbclid part alone, from the & or ? before it to the end of its value.
Related reading: what are utm parameters, which often travel in the same URLs, and how to remove tracking from any link.
Frequently asked questions
Is fbclid unique to me?
It's unique to the click event: your account, that link, that moment. Two people clicking the same link get different values, which is what makes it useful for tracking and worth removing.
Does the link work without fbclid?
Yes, always. fbclid carries zero content. It exists so the destination site and Meta can compare notes about your visit.
Do other companies do the same thing?
Yes. Google appends gclid to ad clicks, Microsoft uses msclkid, Twitter/X has used twclid, and TikTok uses ttclid. They're all click identifiers and all safe to strip from links you share.
