Question

I have a question about a parameter I see in the iframe URL when I generate the code for the like button. https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like/
When I copy the iframe code, I see something like:

<iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?
    app_id=1234567890&href&send=false&layout=standard&width=300&
    show_faces=true&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=80"
    scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden;
    width:300px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

The meaning of all these parameters is clear to me, except “app_id”.
What application is that?

I didn’t specify any URL in the code, so why is Facebook giving me a new app_id?
Wasn’t the app_id parameter supposed to be included in the OpenGraph tags?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Here is what I found upon investigation:

When you generate a Like button (ie, click the “get code” button), a new Facebook application is created called “Unnamed App” and tied to your developer account.

This is undocumented and new behavior. We may be seeing the result of some un-announced Facebook Platform feature/policy. Keep your eye on F8 for possible details.