What is a Page URL?
A page URL is a web page address you can see in your browser’s address bar.
It is also the link you can share to direct them to a specific web page.
Is the Page URL the same as the URL?
The terms “URL” and “page URL” are often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different meanings depending on the context.
In general, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a web address that identifies the location of a resource on the internet, such as a web page, image, video, or file. A URL typically consists of several parts, including the protocol (http:// or https://), the domain name (e.g., example.com), the path (the specific location of the resource on the server), and any optional parameters or queries.
On the other hand, a page URL specifically refers to the URL of a web page that you can see in your browser’s address bar. It is the unique identifier for that page on the internet, and it is the link you can share with others to direct them to that page.
So, while all page URLs are URLs, not all refer to web pages. For example, an image URL or file URL may refer to a specific image or file on a website but not to a web page.
In short, a page URL is a type of URL that specifically refers to the web address of a page on a website.
What is the Basic Structure of URLs
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, consisting of several parts that provide information about the page’s location, name, and format.
The basic structure of a URL is as follows:
protocol://domain/path/filename.extension
Let’s break down each part and see what they mean:
Protocol
This is the method of communication that the browser uses to access the web page.
The most common protocol used to be HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which defines how web pages are transmitted and displayed.
Other protocols include HTTPS (HTTP Secure), which encrypts the data for security purposes and is now the most common protocol; FTP (File Transfer Protocol), which allows file transfers between computers; and mailto, which opens an email client.
Domain
This is the name of the website that hosts the web page.
Path
This is the folder or directory where the web page is stored on the website’s server. It can have multiple levels separated by slashes.
Filename
This is the name of the web page file. It usually has an extension that indicates the file type, such as .html for HTML files, .php for PHP files, .jpg for JPEG images, etc.
Extension
This is the suffix that indicates the type of file. It can also affect how the browser interprets and displays the web page. For example, .html files are rendered as HTML documents, while .pdf files are opened with a PDF viewer.
Why are Page URLs Important?
Page URLs are essential for several reasons, such as:
- They help users and search engines understand the page’s content and how it relates to other pages on the same website or domain.
- They affect the user experience and the website’s usability, as users can easily navigate, bookmark, and revisit pages with clear and descriptive URLs.
- It enables web developers to create links and references between web pages and other resources on the internet.
- They influence the ranking and visibility of the website in search engines, as URLs are one of the factors that search engines use to determine the relevance and authority of a web page.
Therefore, creating and optimising page URLs that are user-friendly, SEO-friendly, and consistent is essential.
Best Practices For Creating and Optimizing Page URLs
Here are some best practices to follow when creating and optimising page URLs:
Use keywords that describe the main topic or purpose of the page
Keywords help users and search engines understand what the page is about and match it with relevant queries. For example, if your page is about how to make chocolate cake, you could use a URL like https://example.com/how-to-make-chocolate-cake.
Keep the URL short and simple
Avoid using unnecessary words, symbols, or parameters that make the URL longer and harder to read. A short, straightforward URL is easier to remember, type, and share.
Use hyphens to separate words in the URL
Hyphens make the URL more readable and understandable for users and search engines. Do not use spaces, underscores, or other characters to separate words in the URL, as they can cause confusion or errors.
Use lowercase letters in the URL.
Uppercase letters can cause inconsistency and duplication issues, as some servers and browsers may treat them differently. For example, https://example.com/How-To-Make-Chocolate-Cake may be considered a different URL from https://example.com/how-to-make-chocolate-cake by some servers or browsers, which can affect the ranking and performance of your website.
To avoid this problem, always use lowercase letters in your URL.
Use a secure protocol in the URL
A secure protocol, such as HTTPS, encrypts the data exchanged between your website and visitors’ browsers to protect your website and your visitors from hackers, malware, and other threats.
A secure protocol also improves the trustworthiness and credibility of your website, as users and search engines prefer secure websites.
Use canonical URLs
A canonical URL is the preferred version of a web page’s URL that you want search engines to index and display in their search results.
If you have multiple versions of the same content, such as different URLs for HTTP and HTTPS, www and non-www, or parameters and tracking codes, you can use canonical URLs to consolidate them into one primary URL. This helps to avoid duplicate content issues, which can hurt your SEO and confuse users.
Avoid changing URLs frequently
If you change a page’s URL frequently, search engines may treat it as a new page and reset its ranking and authority.
This can cause your website to lose traffic and credibility, as users may have trouble finding and trusting your content. If you need to change a URL, use a 301 redirect to redirect the old URL to the new one and transfer its ranking and authority to the new page.
Use descriptive filenames and alt texts
When you upload images or other media to your website, use descriptive filenames and alt texts describing the content. This helps search engines, and users understand the relevance and context of the content and also improves the accessibility and usability of your website.
These are some important things to know about page URLs and how to create and optimise them for your website. Following these best practices can improve your website’s user experience, SEO, and performance.