Hyphens vs Underscores in File Names for SEO: What’s Best?

ByJonathan Holmes
File naming conventions for SEO are essential in organizing and optimizing your website’s content. To separate words in your file names, it may be tempting to use underscores or spaces. However, using hyphens is the recommended practice as it serves a key purpose in differentiating individual words within the filename and improving readability. Here are a few reasons why you should use hyphens instead of underscores:

  • Hyphens improve readability: File names with hyphens in between words are easier to read for both humans and search engines. When a search engine crawls your site, it can easily understand what your content is about and can rank it accordingly.
  • Underscores can cause confusion: Using underscores in your file name can make it difficult to distinguish between a space and an underscore. Search engines may also misread underscores, opting to combine words instead of treating them as separate entities.
  • Standard ASCII characters: To ensure your website functions properly, it is important to stick to basic characters when naming your files and directories. Avoid using characters like ampersands, accented letters, and other special symbols.
  • Avoid generic names: Being specific and descriptive in your file naming can improve your website’s overall SEO. Using generic names like “document1” or “page1” doesn’t provide any context or value to search engines or visitors.

    • By using hyphens in your file names, you can increase the readability and organization of your website’s content for both humans and search engines. Stick to standard ASCII characters and avoid generic names to ensure your website is optimized for SEO.

    Tips:
    1. Consistency is key when it comes to using hyphens or underscores in file names. Choose one and stick with it across all files on your website.
    2. Use hyphens instead of underscores in file names to ensure search engines can read and separate keywords in the URL.
    3. Avoid using spaces in file names altogether as they can lead to errors and confusion for both search engines and users.
    4. Keep file names short, descriptive, and relevant to the content of the page they are associated with.
    5. Don’t rely solely on file names for SEO. Focus on creating high-quality, relevant content and building a strong backlink profile for optimal results.

    Hyphens vs. underscores in file names

    When naming files on your website, you may come across a common dilemma: should you use hyphens or underscores to separate words in file names? While both can work, hyphens are generally preferred over underscores when it comes to SEO.

    Why hyphens are better for SEO

    Hyphens are better for SEO because they are read as a space by search engines. This means that search engines can recognize each individual word in the file name, making it more likely to match with a user’s search query. In contrast, underscores are not recognized as spaces by search engines, which can lead to confusion and incorrect word matching.

    Additionally, hyphens make file names more readable and understandable for both search engines and users. When a file name uses hyphens to separate words, it is easier to identify what the file is about and can also improve the user experience by making the URL easier to read and remember.

    Guidelines for naming files

    When naming files for SEO, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. First, always use hyphens to separate words in file names. This will ensure that search engines can properly read and match the words in your file name to user’s search queries.

    Additionally, use only standard ASCII alphanumeric characters when naming directories and files. This means avoiding special characters or accents, which can cause issues with URL encoding and compatibility with different devices and browsers.

    Lastly, avoid using generic file names like “document1” or “page2”. These kinds of file names are not helpful for users or search engines, and can make it more difficult for your content to stand out in search results. Instead, choose file names that accurately reflect the content they contain and are descriptive enough to make sense even when read out of context.

    Differentiating words in file names

    When it comes to differentiating words in file names, hyphens are the best choice. As mentioned earlier, search engines read hyphens as a space, which means they can accurately differentiate each word in your file name.

    This is particularly important for longer file names, which can be more difficult to read and understand without clear word separation. Hyphens can also make your file names more visually appealing and easy to read.

    Using standard ASCII characters

    Using standard ASCII alphanumeric characters is important for maintaining compatibility with different devices and browsers. While special characters or accents may be necessary for accuracy in certain languages, they can also cause issues with URL encoding and compatibility.

    By sticking to standard ASCII characters, your file names will be universally compatible and easy to access across different platforms and devices. This is especially important for mobile devices, which are becoming increasingly common for searching and accessing web content.

    Avoiding generic file names

    Generic file names, like “document1” or “page2”, can be confusing and unhelpful for both users and search engines. Instead, choose descriptive file names that accurately reflect the content they contain. This can make your content easier to find and can also improve the user experience by helping users understand what they are clicking on.

    When naming files, think about what words users might use to search for that content and try to incorporate those words into the file name. This can improve the likelihood of your content showing up in search results and can also improve the relevance of your content to users.

    Best practices for file naming in HTML

    When naming files in HTML, it’s important to follow the guidelines mentioned above to ensure compatibility and readability for both users and search engines. Additionally, consider using keywords in your file names to improve the relevance of your content.

    Using HTML formatted bullet points can also be helpful in organizing and presenting information in a clear and concise way. When using bullet points, use simple, declarative phrases and make sure each point is relevant and adds value to the overall content.

    Overall, by following these guidelines and best practices, you can create file names that are optimized for SEO and user readability, making it easier for search engines and users to find and understand your content.

    Similar Posts