A permalink is the permanent, complete URL of a specific piece of content — a post, a page, a category archive — on a website. "Permalink" is short for "permanent link," reflecting the general idea that a URL, once published, ideally shouldn't change.
WordPress Permalink Structure Options
- Plain — ugly, non-descriptive URLs like `?p=123`
- Day and name — includes the full publish date along with the post's title
- Month and name — includes the publish month and the post's title
- Post name — a clean, simple structure using just the post's title (generally the recommended option)
Why Permalink Structure Genuinely Matters
- Clean, descriptive URLs are noticeably easier for both visitors and search engines to understand
- Keyword-relevant URLs can provide a small, positive SEO signal
- Clear, readable URLs are considerably more shareable and trustworthy-looking
A Word of Caution
Changing a site's permalink structure after it's already established can break every existing link pointing to the site, both internal and external, unless proper 301 redirects are carefully set up beforehand. It's a setting well worth getting right early, ideally before a site has any significant published content or earned backlinks.
« Back to Index