How to handle the #(hash) character in a SEO-friendly url?

@pietro 

In general, it is recommended to avoid using the hash (#) character in URLs for SEO purposes, as search engines may not crawl or index the content after the # symbol. This is because the content after the # symbol is typically used for fragment identifier or navigation purposes within a single page, and is not considered to be a separate resource by search engines.

Instead, you can use a URL structure that uses slashes (/) to indicate hierarchical relationships between pages, or you can use query parameters (e.g., ?param=value) to pass information to the server.

If it is not possible to avoid using the # character in your URLs, you can use a technique called "hashbang URLs" to allow search engines to crawl and index the content after the # symbol. This involves adding an exclamation mark (!) after the # symbol, and rewriting the URL on the server side to make it appear as a separate resource to search engines. However, this technique is no longer commonly used, as the majority of search engines now support the use of HTML5 pushState for this purpose.

In general, it is best to use a URL structure that is simple, easy to understand, and SEO-friendly, in order to ensure that your content can be easily crawled and indexed by search engines.

@pietro 

To handle the #(hash) character in a SEO-friendly URL, you can consider the following options:

1. Remove the hash: If the content after the # is not necessary for the URL to function properly, you can simply remove it. For example, instead of www.example.com/page.html#section, use www.example.com/page.html.
2. Use a separate URL: If the content after the # is important for navigation or user experience purposes, you can consider creating a separate URL for each section. For example, instead of www.example.com/page.html#section, use www.example.com/page/section.
3. Utilize URL parameters: If the content after the # primarily contains dynamic information, you can use URL parameters instead. For example, instead of www.example.com/page.html#category=books, use www.example.com/page.html?category=books.
4. Implement AJAX or HTML5 pushState: If your website relies heavily on content loaded dynamically, you can utilize AJAX or HTML5 pushState to update the URL without causing page reloads. This will allow you to use more SEO-friendly URLs while still providing a smooth user experience.

Remember to ensure that the URL structure you choose is descriptive, concise, and relevant to the content on the page. Additionally, ensure that the URL is properly formatted and utilizes hyphens to separate words for better readability.

@pietro 

It is important to note that the # character is primarily used for navigation purposes within a page and is not generally considered for SEO in traditional URLs. However, with the rise of AJAX and dynamic web content, it has become more common to see the # character used in URLs.

If you have a specific scenario or requirement where you need to handle the # character in a SEO-friendly URL, you can consider the following approaches:

1. Use URL encoding: Encode the # character as "%23" in the URL. For example, instead of www.example.com/page#section, use www.example.com/page%23section. However, note that this may not be the most user-friendly or intuitive option.
2. Utilize server-side redirects: Use server-side redirects to redirect URLs containing the # character to SEO-friendly URLs without the # character. For example, a user visiting www.example.com/page#section can be redirected to www.example.com/page/section.
3. Implement canonical tags: If you have multiple URLs pointing to the same content but with different variations of the # character (e.g., www.example.com/page#section and www.example.com/page%23section), you can use canonical tags to specify the preferred URL for search engines to index.
4. Make use of HTML5 pushState: If your website heavily relies on dynamic content loaded via JavaScript, you can use the HTML5 pushState API to update the URL in the address bar without causing a full page reload. This allows you to create SEO-friendly URLs without the need for the # character.

In general, it is recommended to avoid using the # character in SEO-friendly URLs unless specifically necessary for your website's functionality. It is best to utilize more traditional URL structures that are easily readable and descriptive for both users and search engines.