# Is there a computer program that reveals info on a website, similar to viewing source

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-computer-program-that-reveals-info-on-a-website-similar-to-viewing-source/457508>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 23, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-computer-program-that-reveals-info-on-a-website-similar-to-viewing-source/457508 "2008-07-23T18:13:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-computer-program-that-reveals-info-on-a-website-similar-to-viewing-source/457508/1 "2008-07-23T18:13:01Z")

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I’m looking for a program that shows you the information on a website… basically the hidden language. I use the web developer toolbar for firefox but I want something a bit more thorough.  
I’m trying to find something that will let you know things such as where the site is directing you to upon clicking on a link, directories of images, the date updated, and who the information is sent to when you fill out and submit a form.

Anyone have any ideas of a program like this or something similar?

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-computer-program-that-reveals-info-on-a-website-similar-to-viewing-source/457508/2 "2008-07-23T18:37:09Z")

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[QUOTE=SweetHomeColorado]

I’m trying to find something that will let you know things such as where the site is directing you to upon clicking on a link,

[/quote]

This information is contained in the link itself. If the link activates a Javascript function, you’ll have to look at the Javascript and figure out what it’s doing. If the link results in a server redirect, you can examine the HTTP headers (using something like the [LiveHTTPHeaders plugin](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3829).)

> [@](#):
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> directories of images,

This information will only be available if the server admin has enabled indexes for directories.

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> the date updated

Some servers send a Last-Modified header which can be seen using the LiveHTTPHeaders extension. This basically gets you the filesystem mtime for static content; for dynamic content the header will be omitted or it will contain useless information.

> [@](#):
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> and who the information is sent to when you fill out and submit a form.

There’s no way to know this without access to the server-side code. In any case, most form submissions get stuck in a database rather than sent to a particular person.