P2Issue #36

URL : Underscores

❓ What does it mean?

❓ What does it mean? When a website’s URL structure uses underscores (_) instead of hyphens (-), search engines treat them differently. Google treats underscores as joiners → words connected with _ are read as one word. Hyphens (-) are treated as separators → words remain distinct. Example: red_shoes.html → Google reads as “redshoes” red-shoes.html → Google reads as “red shoes”

🚨 Why is it important for SEO?

🚨 Why is it bad for SEO? Reduced Keyword Clarity Using _ hides keyword separation, lowering relevance. Lower Click-Through Rate (CTR) Hyphenated URLs look cleaner and more readable to users. Inconsistent SEO Signals If some pages use - and others _, it creates inconsistency. Potential Duplicate Issues Search engines may index both variations differently if not handled with redirects.

✅ How to Fix It

✅ Best Practices Always use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) in URLs. Keep URLs short, descriptive, and lowercase. Avoid special characters, spaces, and unnecessary parameters. Use 301 redirects if you’re changing from _ to - to preserve SEO value.

❌ Bad Example

📌 Example ❌ Bad (with underscores): https://example.com/red_shoes/new_arrivals Google reads red_shoes as redshoes → keyword lost.

✅ Good Example

✅ Good (with hyphens): https://example.com/red-shoes/new-arrivals Clear keyword separation: red shoes + new arrivals. User-friendly and SEO-friendly.

⚡ Result

⚡ Result of Fixing Improved keyword recognition by search engines. Cleaner, more clickable URLs in SERPs. Stronger semantic signals → better chances of ranking. Enhanced user trust and experience.