What is a permalink? • SEO for Beginners • Yoast

If you’re planning to create a website or publish a blog post, you’ve probably heard the word “permalink” before. But what exactly is a permalink? In simple words, it is the permanent link to a page on your website, such as the official street address of your house. No matter how often you update your content, that link stays the same, telling people (and Google) exactly where that page is. In this blog, we’ll explain what a permalink is, why it’s important, how to choose the right permalink structure, and how Yoast SEO helps you manage everything easily.

Quick note: If your website is already established, changing existing permalinks can lead to broken links and SEO issues. Don’t worry, we’ll show you how to do it safely later in this guide.

What is a permalink?

Before we get into it, let’s start with the basics: What is a permalink? A permalink (short for “permanent link”) is the stable URL that points to a specific page or post on your website. Think of it as the eternal address of a piece of content. Even if you refresh the page, the permalink remains the same, so people and search engines can always find it.

A permalink usually consists of two main parts:

• Your domain name (e.g. yourdomain.com)
• The slug, the last part of the URL, tells people what the page is about

So a clean permalink could look like this:

→ https://yourdomain.com/sponsored-tweets-guide

And it will always lead to this exact guide.

Compare that to a messy auto-generated URL like:

→ https://yourdomain.com/post-id?=5726fjwenfkd

The first is easier to read, easier to remember, more suitable for sharing and more beneficial for SEO. This is exactly why it is so important to understand the permalink in WordPress, especially as your website grows and you want your content to be easy to find.

Depending on your structure, permalinks can also contain categories or subfolders. For example:

→ https://yourdomain.com/blog/best-yoga-poses

No matter how your website changes on the backend, a permalink should always point to the same page. However, if you ever update your URL structure or change the slug, you will need to set up redirects; Otherwise the original permalink will not work. We will discuss this further later in this blog post.

Clear, simple permalinks make your content easier to read, index, and trust. This is why choosing a suitable permalink structure early on is so important.

A quick overview of permalink anatomy

Now that you know what a permalink is, let’s briefly explain what it actually consists of. A permalink may seem simple from the outside, but every part of it has a specific purpose. Think of it like a small puzzle. Each part helps your browser understand exactly where to take you.

To simplify things, we’ll use an example URL:

Here’s a quick overview of each element in a permalink:

Protocol (or schema)	This is the beginning of every URL, the http:// or https:// part. It tells your browser how to connect to a website. → http:// is the old, not so secure version → https:// is the secure, modern version that protects your data These days https:// is a must, especially if you care about trust, SEO and security.
Subdomain	This is the small prefix that comes before your main domain. In our example it is www. You can also use subdomains like shop.example.com or blog.example.com if you want to separate different sections of your website.
Root domain (or hostname)	This is the address of your main website, i.e. the part you purchase, e.g. E.g. example.com. It consists of two parts: → The name you chose (example) → The following extension (.com, .org, .net, etc.) Together, they form the foundation of your website’s identity.
path (or snail)	Anything that comes after the domain is usually the part that WordPress users consider a permalink. In our example: /blog/my-first-post → The path (/blog/) displays the section or folder → The snail (my-first-post) is the unique part that describes the page In WordPress, you can easily edit the slug for any post or page to make your permalink clean and SEO friendly.
Parameters and anchors (optional extras)	These parts don’t appear in every permalink, but when they do, they provide additional information. parameter come after a question mark, like ?page=2 or tracking codes like ?utm_source=email anchor are identified by a hash (#), e.g. B. #Comments, and direct the visitor to a specific section on the same page

Difference between permalinks and URLs

You may be wondering how a URL is different from a permalink. They look similar, link to web pages, and are both located in your browser’s address bar. So what makes them different? The easiest way to understand it is this: Every permalink is a URL, but not every URL is a permalink.

Must Read: Best practices for SEO-friendly URLs

Static URLs vs. dynamic URLs

To better understand the difference, URLs can be divided into two types:

Static URLs:

These stay the same and always redirect you to the same page. Example: yourdomain.com/blog/how-to-bake-sourdough. This is a static URL and yes, it is also a permalink.

Dynamic URLs:

These changes depend on user actions and typically include additional parameters such as: ?page=2 or ?color=blue. Example: yourdomain.com/products/shirt?color=blue&size=large. Dynamic URLs are not considered permalinks because search engines treat each version as separate pages with different parameters.

Examples of URLs that are not permalinks

Not every URL counts as a permalink. Here’s why:

Dynamic URLs containing parameters

These URLs load content, but the added parameters make them temporary and can be changed. For example, yourdomain.com/blog?page=2 And yourdomain.com/best-yoga-poses?source=email.

Static URLs that do not point to a specific page

These are still URLs, but they redirect you to the homepage, root domain, or a general section rather than specific content. So they are not considered permalinks. For example, “YourDomain.com”, “www.YourDomain.com” and “Shop.YourDomain.com”.

The importance of permalinks in your digital presence

Now that you know what a permalink is and how it’s constructed, let’s talk about why it’s actually important. Many people think that permalinks are just tiny technical settings within a content management system (CMS), but they play a much larger role in how your website looks, feels, and performs on the SERPs.

Check out: Google Search Engine Results Page (SERP) Features

Why permalinks are important for SEO

Search engines like Google pay close attention to your URLs. A clean permalink clearly shows what your page is about, making it easier for your content to rank high on Google.

For example: yourdomain.com/blog/what-is-a-permalink vs. yourdomain.com/?p=123. The first explains the topic clearly and clearly. The second doesn’t tell Google anything.

A strong permalink structure helps with:

• Keywords: If your slug contains your main keyword, Google will immediately get context
• Crawlability: Delete folders, e.g /services/web-design/Help search engines understand your website hierarchy
• Link equity: People are far more likely to link to clean URLs than long, confusing ones. More links = stronger SEO

How permalinks shape the user experience

Permalinks aren’t just for search engines; They also affect how real people feel when they visit your website.

Clean, readable URLs keep your website looking professional and trustworthy. If anyone sees a link like /contact-us/ or /shop/they know immediately where they want to go. However, if they come across something like this /c/post?id=72it seems suspicious and difficult to understand.

Good permalinks help with:

• Clarity: Users can guess the topic based on the URL alone
• Trust: A clear URL feels more trustworthy than a random string of numbers
• Memorability: Simple slugs are easy to remember or re-enter later

In short, clean permalinks create a smoother and friendlier experience for every visitor.

How permalinks support the structure of your website

Your permalink structure is basically the map of your website. It shows how your content fits together and makes it easier for both users and search engines to navigate your site.

For example a URL like: yourdomain.com/services/web-design/.

Tell someone immediately:

• You are in the “Services” section.
• You look at the web design page

This clear parent-child relationship will make your website appear more organized. And if your website structure is clean, Google can crawl and understand your content much faster.

Choosing the right permalink structure early on will keep your website simple, secure and easy to manage even as it grows.

Configuring Permalinks in WordPress

When you publish a new page or post in WordPress, the platform automatically creates a permalink for you. The problem? The default permalink isn’t great for SEO or user experience. The good news is that WordPress allows you to easily change your permalink settings and choose a structure that better suits your website.

Changing your WordPress permalink structure is a simple three-step process. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and look for the “Settings” option in the left menu.

Step 2: Click on “Permalinks”. Option to open page permalink settings.

Finally, select the desired permalink format according to your needs.

Recommendations for every WordPress configuration

Each structure has its own purpose. So the best structure for you depends on your SEO goals and the type of content you publish. Here’s a short and friendly breakdown:

Permalink settings	Setting recommendations
Day and name (https://example.com/2025/10/27/sample-post/)	Good for news-heavy websites. Ideal for publishers who publish multiple updates daily. However, for most websites, adding the full date will make your content appear outdated too quickly.
Month and name (https://example.com/2025/10/sample-post/)	The verdict is the same as above. Slightly shorter, but still adds a timestamp that most companies may not need.
Numerical (https://example.com/archives/123)	Skip this one. Just another version of an unclear, non-descriptive link. It provides readers and search engines with no clue as to what the page is about.
Post name (https://example.com/sample-post/)	The best option for 99% of websites. Clean. Short. Easy to read. Keyword friendly. Perfect for SEO. If you have ever searched for “what is a permalink in WordPress” or “what is a WordPress permalink”, this is the recommended format.
Custom structure	This allows you to create your own format with tags like /%category%/, /%postname%/ or /%author%/.

Change permalinks without ending up in 404

Although we call them permalinks or permanent links, there may be times when you need to update them. Maybe a page title has changed, maybe you’re correcting the structure of your website, or maybe you’re cleaning up old URLs. Whatever the reason, changing a permalink shouldn’t just happen; One wrong move can result in 404 errors.

So before we talk about how to change a permalink in WordPress, it’s important to understand when you should change it, why it’s important, and what possible effects it could have.

When should you change a permalink?

Even though permalinks should stay the same, there are situations in which a change makes sense. Here are the most common use cases where updating a permalink is not only acceptable, but sometimes necessary.

If your current permalink is not SEO friendly

If your website started with WordPress’ standard “simple” URLs (like /?p=123), you’ll quickly notice that they don’t describe the content, which makes ranking difficult. Switching to a clean, keyword-rich structure helps search engines understand your site better.

Example:

❌ yourdomain.com/?p=245

✔ yourdomain.com/how-to-start-a-blog

If your permalink doesn’t reflect your topic, it may be a wise decision to fix the problem.

When you improve the user experience

Sometimes older permalink formats are confusing or too long. Updating to a short and clear form makes URLs easier to read, remember and share.

Users would much rather click on something like yourdomain.com/blue-dress instead of yourdomain.com/products/?id=blue&ref=123.

Clean permalinks help build trust, which in turn leads to more clicks.

Also read: SEO Basics: What are User Signals?

If your content appears “out of date” because of the URL

If your permalink contains the year or full date (e.g. news-style URLs), users may assume the content is out of date, even if the blog post is still relevant. Switching to a timeless structure can improve click-through rates; for example use yourdomain.com/best-seo-tips/ instead of yourdomain.com/best-seo-tips-2025/.

If you rename or restructure your website

If you rebuild your website, change domain names, or reorganize categories, make sure your permalinks match your new structure. This keeps your content consistent and prevents confusion.

If you switch to HTTPS

Switching from HTTP to HTTPS is a major security improvement and impacts your permalinks. Redirects are necessary to ensure your old links continue to work.

Also read: HTTP status codes and what they mean for SEO

If you inherit or audit an old website

If the previous owner used messy or unclear permalinks, updating these permalinks can help you improve SEO, restore trust, and create a more organized structure.

The Impact of Changing Permalinks (and Why You Need to Be Careful)

Changing permalinks unplanned can lead to serious problems, especially for search engine optimization. Because permalinks work like permanent addresses, updating them incorrectly can break links throughout your site.

Here’s what can go wrong:

• You can throw 404 errors: This happens when the old URL no longer exists and you haven’t added a redirect. Too many 404 errors impact both user experience and search engine optimization
• You can lose rankings: If you change a permalink without a 301 redirect, Google will treat the new URL as a brand new page, resulting in a drop in traffic and a loss in link value
• Internal links can break: Any links within your own site that point to the old URL will no longer work unless they are updated or redirected
• External links no longer send traffic: Backlinks from other websites, emails or social posts lead to broken pages if no redirects are present

Also read: Clean up your bad backlinks

How to Change Permalinks in WordPress Safely (Without Breaking Your Website)

If you ever need to update a permalink, you should not intervene directly. There’s a simple three-step process that will keep your site secure, your rankings stable, and your visitors safe from 404 errors. Think of it as your mini checklist for making permalink changes properly.

Step 1: Secure your website (just for security)

Before editing your URL structure, always create a full backup. If something goes wrong, you can restore your site in seconds instead of trying to fix broken links one at a time.

Step 2: Set up a 301 redirect for the old URL

This is the most important step. A 301 redirect informs Google and your visitors that your page has been permanently moved. It redirects everyone to the new permalink and retains almost all of your SEO value.

Without 301 redirect	With a 301 redirect
Your old link will become a 404	Your traffic remains safe
Your new link will lose rankings	Your SEO strength changes with the new URL
All backlinks pointing to the old URL lose their power	Google will update the new permalink over time

You can set up redirects manually, but this usually requires knowledge of databases or cPanel. Luckily, WordPress plugins make it easy, and this is where Yoast SEO Premium proves incredibly helpful.

The plugin’s redirect manager feature automatically creates a 301 redirect every time you change a URL or move/delete a page. So even if you forget to set up a redirect, Yoast will do it for you and protect your SEO in the background.

Here’s how the Yoast SEO Premium plugin takes the stress out of the process:

• Automatically creates redirects when you change or delete a URL
• Prevents 404 errors by redirecting visitors to the correct page
• Allow the correct redirect type to be selected (301, 302, 307, 410, etc.)
• Organizes all redirects in a clear dashboard
• Supports advanced options such as REGEX redirects and import/export

With Yoast SEO Premium, you don’t have to remember any of these steps. You change the permalink and the plugin processes the redirect immediately, preserving your SEO, structure and user experience.

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Step 3: Change your permalink structure

Once your redirects are ready, you can safely update your permalink in the WordPress editor or change the global permalink settings. At this point, you won’t be breaking any links because your redirects are already in place.

Permalink best practices to prevent frequent changes

A well-structured permalink will save you future headaches. Here are the best practices you should follow every time you create a new permalink on your WordPress site.

Keep your permalink short, simple, and descriptive

A slug shouldn’t look like a complete sentence. It should act like an address that clearly tells users and search engines what the page is about. Shorter permalinks are easier to read, share, and understand. For example, /improve-seo-2025/

Use your target keyword naturally

Your main keyword should appear in the slug, but only once. This helps search engines identify the topic without making your URL appear spammy. For example, /what-is-a-permalink/.

Use hyphens to separate words

Hyphens are the correct standard for URLs. Search engines read them as natural separators between words.

Avoid:

• Underscores (my_post)
• Space (my%20 post)
• Words combined without separation (my contribution)

Always write them like this: yourdomain.com/chocolate-cake

Use dates with caution

As previously mentioned, deadlines can be particularly helpful for news sites or when dealing with strictly time-sensitive topics. However, for most blogs and business websites, dates in permalinks can make your content appear outdated, even if it remains relevant. Therefore, choose evergreen URLs like /best-yoga-poses/ whenever possible.

Use lowercase letters in all URLs

Because URLs are case-sensitive, uppercase and lowercase letters of the same slug may be treated as different pages. This can lead to duplicate content issues. Always stick to lowercase letters, such as: yourdomain.com/types-of-tea.

Encode special characters and emojis

If your slug contains accent characters (ä, å, ö) or emojis (which you should avoid), they must be encoded using UTF-8. Without encoding, browsers can corrupt the URL or cause crawling errors.

Encoding ensures that the permalink is displayed correctly and remains accessible to search engines.

Stay consistent with your permalink structure

Whether you use /blog/%postname%/ or place all service pages below it /services/%postname%/choose one approach and follow it for the entire site; Consistency improves navigation, user experience and SEO.

Your permalinks are your digital foundation

Your permalink structure may seem simple at first glance, but it silently supports the way users and search engines interact with your website. A clear and consistent URL helps readers understand your content, builds trust, reduces confusion, and prevents the need for constant changes later. It also provides search engines with a clear path to follow, improving your overall SEO performance.

By keeping permalinks short, descriptive, keyword-oriented, avoiding unnecessary stop words, choosing hyphens, maintaining consistent formats, and using lowercase letters, you create a structure that’s built to last. These small choices make your URLs easier to share, manage, and understand by Google.

With the right permalink strategy and the help of tools like Yoast SEO to manage redirects and page structure, you can build a solid foundation that will support your content for years to come.

Your URLs aren’t just technical details. They are part of your website’s identity. Treat them with care and they will continue to guide search engines and users to the right place every time.

Ahad Qureshi

I have a degree in computer science and got into writing by accident – and stayed because I fell in love with it. For the last six years, I’ve been immersed in SEO and technical content, turning jargon into stories that actually make sense. When I’m not writing, I’m probably lifting weights to balance my love of food (because yes, the gym and biryani can coexist) or catching up with friends over a nice cup of chai.

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