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Referrer Policy

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Cybersecurity 14 Sep 2026 6 min read

Referrer Policy Controls Navigation Metadata Exposure

Referrer Policy Controls Navigation Metadata Exposure A link from an internal account page to an external support site can carry more context than the destination needs. Depending on browser policy and request conditions, the HTTP Referer header can identify the source origin or include a fuller source address. If that address contains sensitive path structure or query data, navigation metadata becomes an unintended disclosure channel. Referrer Policy gives a document, response, or individual element control over how much source address information accompanies eligible requests. It does not encrypt traffic, authenticate destinations, or prevent navigation. Its purpose is narrower: constrain the referrer information exposed when the browser makes requests.