What Is a URL Slug?

The slug is the tail end of a URL, the bit a human can actually read. It is a small detail people ignore until their address bar looks like a cat walked across the keyboard.

The short version

A URL slug is the part of a web address that identifies a specific page in a readable way, usually the text after the domain. For example, in a page about meta titles, the slug might be what is a meta title.

How to write a clean slug

• Keep it short and descriptive

• Include the primary keyword

• Use lowercase and separate words with hyphens

• Drop filler words that add nothing

Why it matters

A clear slug helps users know what to expect and gives engines another clean signal about the page topic. It will not make or break you, but messy slugs add friction for no reason.

FAQ

Should I change old URL slugs?

Only with care. Changing a slug changes the URL, so you need a proper redirect to avoid losing the page's existing value.