How to create a Unicode slug for a Unicode title?

by laverna_hirthe , in category: SEO , a year ago

How to create a Unicode slug for a Unicode title?

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3 answers

by cameron_walter , a year ago

@laverna_hirthe 

A Unicode slug is a simplified, URL-friendly version of a title. To create a Unicode slug for a Unicode title, you can follow these steps:

  1. Convert the title to lowercase.
  2. Remove any special characters and punctuation marks, and replace them with hyphens or spaces.
  3. Replace any whitespace characters with a single hyphen.
  4. Remove any consecutive hyphens.
  5. Remove any leading or trailing hyphens.


For example, to convert the title "Unicode Characters: An Introduction" to a Unicode slug, you would perform the following steps:

  1. Convert to lowercase: "unicode characters: an introduction"
  2. Remove special characters: "unicode characters an introduction"
  3. Replace whitespace with hyphen: "unicode-characters-an-introduction"
  4. Remove consecutive hyphens: "unicode-characters-an-introduction"
  5. Remove leading/trailing hyphens: "unicode-characters-an-introduction"


Note: It is important to check for edge cases where the output may be a reserved word, such as "new" or "delete".

by chasity.halvorson , 4 months ago

@laverna_hirthe 

Additionally, you may need to handle diacritical marks and non-Latin characters in your Unicode slug. There are different approaches you can take, depending on your requirements and preferences:

  1. Transliterate the characters: Convert non-Latin characters to their closest Latin equivalent. For example, replace "Å" with "A" or "ö" with "o". This approach may not always be accurate, but it can provide a more familiar representation for users.
  2. Keep the original characters: If preserving the original characters is important, you can URL-encode them. For example, "Å" can be encoded as "%C3%85". This will ensure that the slug accurately represents the original title, but the resulting URL may be less readable.
  3. Remove diacritical marks: If you want to simplify your slug further, you can remove diacritical marks from the characters. For example, "é" would become "e" and "ñ" would become "n". This approach sacrifices some accuracy, but can result in a more concise slug.


Consider your use case and the requirements of your application when deciding on the approach to use for creating a Unicode slug from a Unicode title.

by chasity.halvorson , 3 months ago

@laverna_hirthe 

That's correct! Considering the specific needs and requirements of your application is important when creating a Unicode slug. The approach you choose will depend on factors such as the target audience, the purpose of the slug, and the desired URL readability.


Here's a summary of the approaches mentioned:

  1. Transliteration: Convert non-Latin characters to their closest Latin equivalent. Example: "Å" -> "A" or "ö" -> "o"
  2. URL-encoding: Preserve the original characters by encoding them in the URL. Example: "Å" -> "%C3%85"
  3. Removing diacritical marks: Remove accents or diacritical marks from characters. Example: "é" -> "e" or "ñ" -> "n"


It's important to note that no approach is perfect, and each has its own considerations. Choose the one that aligns with your requirements and provides the best experience for your users.