In Python 2.4.4, cgi.parse_qs(qs='', strict_parsing=True) errors out:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in ?
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/cgi.py", line 183, in parse_qs
    for name, value in parse_qsl(qs, keep_blank_values, strict_parsing):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.4/cgi.py", line 217, in parse_qsl
    raise ValueError, "bad query field: %r" % (name_value,)
ValueError: bad query field: ''

To the best of my knowledge, this is bad behavior, since a large
percentage of URLs actually used have empty query strings.

Can query strings be empty? I am unable to find an instance.

Here is one: http://example.com/foo?

Addionally, if the default value is empty string, you expect it work with 
empty string. If a non empty value is needed, it would use None as the 
default.

Hi Sean,
This is a very minor issue (IMO) with Python 2.4. Why did you assign it
to gvanrossum?

Makes me wonder at your assignments.

Thanks,
Senthil

I don't see what the problem is.  You requested strict_parsing=True, and
this is what strict parsing does.