SEO URLs

[tbackoff]

Personally, the only advantage I see with "clean URLs" is that they are easy to remember for users (yes, I read the advanages). However, I think search engine optimization is mute. phpBB does fine with search results (see phpbb.com, for example).

I do support this if it is a "turn off if you don't like it" feature.

[Erik Frèrejean]

We need to be careful though, as this will need to be forwards compatible. So if we make bad choices here, we can really shoot ourselves in the foot. So even if we *do* use something like `/posts/23`, that would be acceptable and better than what we have now, imo.

A format like this is something I think is worth to look into, although "SEO URLs" in the form off:

Code: Select all

http://www.example.com/forum/some-very-long-topic-title-that-is-way-harder-to-remember-than-an-id-t1234.html

are just plain silly, and an administrator really should be able to turn of.

[Ger]

Is it really about remembering? Or is it about click-troughs?
Let's say in some thread I refer to another by just copy-pasting the link. Check the difference in:

Code: Select all

http://www.example.com/viewtopic.php?t=12
http://www.example.com/topic/relevant-keyword-title-12

Readers would probably follow the second link more than the first.

That's the only benefit I really see in "clean" urls.

[Sierron]

It always depends how you use links

Download MyBB here

[dandv]

A format like this is something I think is worth to look into, although "SEO URLs" in the form off:

Code: Select all

http://www.example.com/forum/some-very-long-topic-title-that-is-way-harder-to-remember-than-an-id-t1234.html

are just plain silly, and an administrator really should be able to turn of.

The aspect of URL length is also addressed in the Wikipedia article. The solution is simple: impose a maximum limit on the URL length and substitute the characters in the middle for an ellipsis ("..."). phpBB already does this: http://example.com/thread-12345/configu ... ork-with-y

That's the only benefit I really see in "clean" urls.

I see a few other benefits as well (repost from my phpbb.com thread, for those who haven't seen it already):

• I've had to work in support, and often I had to ask people to read out to me over the phone what the URL of an error page was. Or they told me "I'm at http://blablabla ID = a63ab7f5ee0540698fcc51e5274bf0e2 and I see this problem".
• Paper books that reference online resources have to print their URL, and the reader has to type it in. (For the love of god, please don't say that the book author should use tinyurl.com and pick a pronounceable URL)
• At conferences or presentations, you may want to write a URL on the whiteboard (or in a slide) and have attendees type it in.
• If you're troubleshooting a problem on a computer that doesn't have a connection to another computer, and you want to "paste" a URL to it, you'd have to type that URL in. Often, this URL would point to a forum that explains how to troubleshoot that problem.
• Printouts can have a stylesheet for printing that outputs the URL next to the link title. If a reader later wants to follow the URL, they'll have to type it in.
• On various devices (i.e. phones), entering characters like the '=' from query strings is way more cumbersome than just pressing Shift and + on a full keyboard.

Even online, a human-friendly URL can be used directly, without cumbersome markup. If someone asks "How do I configure X to work with Y", I can quickly reply with "See http://example.com/thread-12345/configu ... ork-with-y", and the URL will look friendly and legit.

[Oleg]

I think it's pretty clear that the side that wants seo/clean urls will never convince the side that does not see their benefits. Rehashing the same arguments over and over again seems pointless.

Those users who want to see seo/clean urls incorporated into phpbb should consider putting their efforts into implementation rather than discussion, as outlined in an earlier post.

[Sierron]

I've had to work in support, and often I had to ask people to read out to me over the phone what the URL of an error page was. Or they told me "I'm at http://blablabla ID = a63ab7f5ee0540698fcc51e5274bf0e2 and I see this problem".Paper books that reference online resources have to print their URL, and the reader has to type it in. (For the love of god, please don't say that the book author should use tinyurl.com and pick a pronounceable URL)At conferences or presentations, you may want to write a URL on the whiteboard (or in a slide) and have attendees type it in.If you're troubleshooting a problem on a computer that doesn't have a connection to another computer, and you want to "paste" a URL to it, you'd have to type that URL in. Often, this URL would point to a forum that explains how to troubleshoot that problem.Printouts can have a stylesheet for printing that outputs the URL next to the link title. If a reader later wants to follow the URL, they'll have to type it in.On various devices (i.e. phones), entering characters like the '=' from query strings is way more cumbersome than just pressing Shift and + on a full keyboard.

And now back to the point where phpBB has any advantage of this...

[dandv]

I've had to work in support, and often I had to ask people to read out to me over the phone what the URL of an error page was. Or they told me "I'm at http://blablabla ID = a63ab7f5ee0540698fcc51e5274bf0e2 and I see this problem".Paper books that reference online resources have to print their URL, and the reader has to type it in. (For the love of god, please don't say that the book author should use tinyurl.com and pick a pronounceable URL)At conferences or presentations, you may want to write a URL on the whiteboard (or in a slide) and have attendees type it in.If you're troubleshooting a problem on a computer that doesn't have a connection to another computer, and you want to "paste" a URL to it, you'd have to type that URL in. Often, this URL would point to a forum that explains how to troubleshoot that problem.Printouts can have a stylesheet for printing that outputs the URL next to the link title. If a reader later wants to follow the URL, they'll have to type it in.On various devices (i.e. phones), entering characters like the '=' from query strings is way more cumbersome than just pressing Shift and + on a full keyboard.

And now back to the point where phpBB has any advantage of this...

Are you seriously asking us to spell out how each of those situations can apply to a phpBB forum?

[Sierron]

Yes. Tell me.

[Erik Frèrejean]

A format like this is something I think is worth to look into, although "SEO URLs" in the form off:

Code: Select all

http://www.example.com/forum/some-very-long-topic-title-that-is-way-harder-to-remember-than-an-id-t1234.html

are just plain silly, and an administrator really should be able to turn of.

The aspect of URL length is also addressed in the Wikipedia article. The solution is simple: impose a maximum limit on the URL length and substitute the characters in the middle for an ellipsis ("..."). phpBB already does this: http://example.com/thread-12345/configu ... ork-with-y

phpBB only does that when displaying the link, the link it self doesn't contain ellipsis.

Even online, a human-friendly URL can be used directly, without cumbersome markup. If someone asks "How do I configure X to work with Y", I can quickly reply with "See http://example.com/thread-12345/configu ... ork-with-y", and the URL will look friendly and legit.

You still need to know the ID, so if you know that you can also type: http://example.com/thread-12345/ which is even shorter/easier . The slug that is appended actually doesn't do a thing but "beatifying" it.