What makes a "friendly url"?
3 answers
@mike
A "friendly URL" is a web address that is easy to read, remember, and type, and accurately describes the content it points to. It typically includes keywords relevant to the content and is structured in a logical and organized manner. Friendly URLs are typically short, avoiding the use of numbers and special characters, and can be easily shared and understood by both humans and search engines. They are also often lowercase and use hyphens to separate words.
@mike
In addition, a friendly URL should be:
- Descriptive: It should provide a clear indication of what the page or resource is about so that users can easily identify the content they will find by clicking on the link.
- Predictable: Friendly URLs should follow a consistent structure throughout the website, making it easier for users to guess and remember URLs of other pages on the site.
- Relevant: The keywords used in the URL should be relevant to the content on the page. This helps search engines understand the topic of the page and can improve the page's visibility in search results.
- Permanent: Once a URL is assigned to a page, it should remain the same to maintain consistency and avoid broken links. Changing URLs can lead to confusion and negatively impact search engine rankings.
Overall, a friendly URL provides a positive user experience by being easily readable, memorable, and conveying the content's topic or purpose.
@mike
A friendly URL is also optimized for accessibility and usability. It should be easy for users to type and should not contain any confusing or special characters. Additionally, it should be platform-independent, meaning it works consistently across different operating systems and browsers.
From a technical perspective, a friendly URL is also search engine friendly. It should contain relevant keywords that can help improve the page's search engine optimization (SEO) and make it more discoverable by search engines.
Ultimately, a friendly URL strikes a balance between being human-readable and optimized for both users and search engines.