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Underscores VS Dashes

by LiamMcArthur
6 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
When optimising a website is it best to use underscores or dashes between file names and urls?
Out of personal preference I have always used dashes as I think they look nicer for the user, but are they read by search engines just as well as each other?

Thanks ,

Liam McArthur
Internet Marketing Assistant
#dashes #file names #underscores #underscores or dashes
  • Profile picture of the author Orlando Web Design
    My vote is dashes, easier to read.
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    • Profile picture of the author osegoly
      Definitely dashes. Much easier to read and very search-engine friendly, at least Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohsin Rasool
    I think there used to be a time when this was believed that _ (underscores) are better
    for SEO... but if you ask today... there is no difference b/w two as far as SEO is concerned.

    Personally I use and prefer - (dashes)!

    Regards,
    Mohsin
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    • Profile picture of the author davidsbain
      Correct programming protocol would say use underscores for the file names but when it comes to URLs then it definately makes more sense to use the dash as it is more commonly used and remembered by people surfing the web. You would be going against the crowd by putting underscores on your URLs. Even better is to find a URL without dashes but not always possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author sharkfla
    Dashes.
    From Google Webmaster Central;

    >>
    Consider using punctuation in your URLs. The URL
    example.com/green-dress.html is much more useful to us than example.com/greendress.html. We recommend that you use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_) in your URLs.
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  • Profile picture of the author LiamMcArthur
    thanks all! dashes it is!
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    Liam McArthur
    Web Developer | Eden Mobility
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