Permalinks are the permanent URLs of your posts, pages and archives. They are what people see in the browser address bar, in search results and when links are shared. WordPress lets you choose how these URLs are structured, and the choice affects readability, sharing and site organisation.
This guide explains the available permalink structures, which one to choose and how to change permalinks safely on an existing website.
Permalink Structure Options
| — | — | — |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | example.com/?p=123 | Avoid; not descriptive |
| Day and name | example.com/2026/10/02/sample-post/ | For daily news sites only |
| Month and name | example.com/2026/10/sample-post/ | Suitable for some news sites |
| Numeric | example.com/archives/123 | Avoid; not descriptive |
| Post name | example.com/sample-post/ | Best for most blogs and businesses |
| Custom structure | example.com/%category%/%postname%/ | Useful in specific cases |
Why “Post Name” Works Best for Most Sites
- Short and readable URLs
- Includes the topic of the page
- Does not look outdated like date-based URLs
- Makes it easy to update content without changing URLs
- Works well for sharing and search results
How to Set Permalinks
- Go to Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress dashboard
- Select “Post name”
- Click Save Changes
Set this before publishing content whenever possible.
Editing Individual Slugs
The slug is the part of the URL specific to each post, such as “wordpress-permalinks-guide”. WordPress creates it from your title, but you can edit it in the post settings.
| — | — | — |
|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up WordPress Permalinks in 2026 | the-ultimate-guide-to-setting-up-wordpress-permalinks-in-2026 | wordpress-permalinks-guide |
| 10 Best Ways to Speed Up Your Website Today | 10-best-ways-to-speed-up-your-website-today | speed-up-website |
Slug Best Practices
- Use lowercase letters and hyphens
- Keep it short and descriptive
- Include the main topic or keyword naturally
- Remove unnecessary stop words
- Avoid dates and numbers that may change
- Do not change slugs after publishing unless necessary
Category Base and Tag Base
By default, category archives use URLs like example.com/category/seo/. Some SEO plugins let you remove the “category” base for shorter URLs. On an existing site, changing this requires redirects, so weigh the benefits carefully.
Should Category Be in Post URLs?
Including categories, such as example.com/seo/post-name/, shows hierarchy but creates problems if you later move posts between categories, because URLs change. For most blogs, the simple post name structure is safer.
Changing Permalinks on an Existing Site
Changing permalink structure on an established site can break links and temporarily affect rankings. If you must change:
- Back up your site
- Record current URLs
- Change the structure
- Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to new URLs (a redirect plugin can handle patterns)
- Update internal links
- Submit the updated sitemap
- Monitor Search Console for 404 errors
WordPress automatically redirects some old slugs when you change a single post’s slug, but structural changes require planned redirects.
Fixing Permalink 404 Errors
If posts suddenly return 404 errors after changing permalinks or migrating, go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes without changing anything. This flushes rewrite rules and often fixes the problem. Also check server configuration files.
Common Mistakes
- Leaving permalinks on “Plain”
- Using dates for evergreen content
- Changing structures repeatedly
- Forgetting redirects after URL changes
- Creating very long slugs from full titles
Real-World Example
A cooking blog launched with date-based permalinks. Two years later, older recipes looked outdated in search results even after updates. The owner switched to “Post name” permalinks, used a redirect plugin to map the old date structure to the new URLs and updated internal links. After a short adjustment period, rankings stabilised, and readers no longer saw old dates in recipe URLs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best permalink structure?
“Post name” is the best choice for most blogs and business websites.
Do permalinks affect SEO?
Clear URLs help users and give search engines a small clue about content. Consistency and avoiding broken links matter most.
Can I change permalinks later?
Yes, but plan redirects carefully to avoid broken links and traffic loss.
Should I remove stop words from slugs?
Often yes, as long as the slug remains clear.
Why do my pages show 404 after migration?
Rewrite rules may need refreshing. Resave permalinks and check server configuration.
Should I include keywords in slugs?
Yes, naturally, but keep slugs short and readable.
Conclusion
Permalinks shape how your content appears and is shared. Choose the “Post name” structure, keep slugs short and descriptive, avoid unnecessary dates and change URLs only with proper redirects. Getting permalinks right early saves time and protects your SEO as your site grows.
