Page URL

A page URL is the web address for a page. Good URLs are short, clear, and easy to read. They help people understand where they are, make links easier to share, and keep the site more organized over time.

 

Keep URLs clear and readable

A good URL should be easy to understand at a glance. People should be able to look at it and get a basic sense of what the page is about.

 

Better

  • /som/admissions/requirements/

  • /it/website-update-request/

  • /student-affairs/housing/

 

Less helpful

  • /som/admissions/page1/

  • /it/webpage_new_final/

  • /student-affairs/misc-info/

 

Clear URLs are easier to manage and easier for users to trust.

 

Keep URLs short

Use only the words needed to describe the page. Long URLs are harder to read, harder to remember, and more likely to become messy over time.

 

Less effective

  • /school-of-medicine/admissions-and-student-services/application-requirements-and-deadlines/

 

Better

  • /som/admissions/requirements/

 

Shorter is usually better as long as the meaning stays clear.

 

Use lowercase letters

Keep all words in the URL lowercase. This helps keep naming consistent and avoids confusion.

 

Use

  • /financial-aid/forms/

 

Avoid

  • /Financial-Aid/Forms/

 

Using lowercase everywhere makes URLs cleaner and more predictable.

 

Use hyphens between words

When a URL includes more than one word, use hyphens to separate the words.

 

Use

  • /campus-parking-map/

  • /residency-application-requirements/

 

Avoid

  • /campus_parking_map/

  • /residencyapplicationrequirements/

  • /campus parking map/

 

Hyphens make URLs easier to read.

 

Avoid special characters and unnecessary words

Do not use punctuation, symbols, or filler words unless they are truly needed. Keep the wording simple.

 

Avoid

  • /pathology/Pathology Residency_Program/

  • /apply-now!/

  • /office-of-the-department-of-student-services/

 

Better

  • /pathology/residency-program/

  • /apply/

  • /student-services/

 

Clean URLs are easier to maintain and easier to share.

 

Match the URL to the page content

The URL should reflect the actual topic of the page. If the page is about a request form, the URL should sound like a request form. If the page is about admissions requirements, the URL should reflect that.

 

Examples:

  • /website-update-request/

  • /admissions/requirements/

  • /clinic/locations/

 

This helps users understand what they are opening before they even get there.

 

Do not repeat words that are already in the folder path

If part of the topic is already clear from the section of the site, do not repeat it again in the file or folder name.

 

For example, if the page already lives inside a pathology section:

 

Better

  • /som/pathology/residency-program/

 

Less effective

  • /som/pathology/pathology-residency-program/

 

Avoiding repetition keeps URLs shorter and cleaner.

 

Avoid vague file names

Do not use names like these:

  • page1

  • newpage

  • final

  • test

  • welcome when it does not describe the content

 

These names may make sense during drafting, but they are not helpful once the page is published.

 

Think long term

A URL should still make sense later. Avoid naming pages around temporary wording, internal shortcuts, or terms that may quickly become outdated.

 

For example, instead of:

  • /fall-campaign-landing-page/

 

you may want:

  • /admissions-events/

 

if the page is likely to be reused or updated over time.

 

Choose names that will still fit if the content grows or changes slightly.

 

Keep landing pages clean

For landing pages, keep the visible URL as clean as possible. If the system automatically uses a default file name for landing pages, that file name usually does not need to appear in links.

 

For example, if the full path includes a default page name, the cleaner version is usually better to share:

 

Use

  • /som/pathology/residency-program/

 

instead of

  • /som/pathology/residency-program/default.aspx

 

This makes shared links easier to read and easier to remember. On the current live guide, the Page URL page notes that landing pages are automatically named default.aspx and that this can usually be omitted when linking to a landing page.

 

Before publishing

Use this quick review before adding or approving a page URL:

  • The URL is short and easy to read.

  • The wording matches the page content.

  • All words are lowercase.

  • Hyphens are used between words when needed.

  • Special characters and extra words were avoided.

  • Repeated wording was removed where possible.

  • The URL will still make sense over time.

 

Related guidance: Page Title, Page Description, Define the Purpose of Page, and Content Development.