If foo.html exists, then:
$ xdg-open foo.html
opens a web browser, but
$ xdg-open foo.html?a=b
gvfs-open: file:///home/samth/tmp/time/racket-full-5.2.1.5/collects/typed-racket/foo.html%3Fa=b: error opening location: Error stating file '/home/samth/tmp/time/racket-full-5.2.1.5/collects/typed-racket/foo.html?a=b': No such file or directory
Note that:
$ firefox foo.html?a=b
works correctly
If foo.html exists, then:
$ xdg-open foo.html
opens a web browser, but
$ xdg-open foo.html?a=b
gvfs-open: file:// /home/samth/ tmp/time/ racket- full-5. 2.1.5/collects/ typed-racket/ foo.html% 3Fa=b: error opening location: Error stating file '/home/ samth/tmp/ time/racket- full-5. 2.1.5/collects/ typed-racket/ foo.html? a=b': No such file or directory
Note that:
$ firefox foo.html?a=b
works correctly