Use short, readable URLs with words separated by hyphens
| Impact | Evidence | Applies to | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Official guidance | Google, Bing | Oct 30, 2026 |
Why it matters
Google's URL structure guidance recommends descriptive words and hyphens to separate them, and it clarified the hyphen versus underscore guidance in October 2026. Readable URLs help users and give a small hint about content. Changing URLs for SEO alone rarely pays off.
How to do it
- Use lowercase words separated by hyphens, e.g. /pricing/enterprise-plan
- Avoid session IDs and long parameter chains on indexable URLs
- Don't rewrite existing URLs unless you also 301 redirect them
Sources
- Latest Google Search documentation updates · Google Search Central, Oct 23, 2026
Change history
| Date | Change | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Added | Added to the rulebook. |
Checked against its sources every Monday. Only content changes are listed.