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Thread: URL's with spaces in variable values

  1. #1
    Senior Member chromate's Avatar
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    URL's with spaces in variable values

    How do the search engines handle spaces in urls?

    for example take the following URL:

    http://www.domain.com/search.php?val=blue bottle

    It actually comes out as:

    http://www.domain.com/search.php?val=blue%20bottle

    Now, I'm trying to use search engine friendly URLs. So, would the following be "search engine friendly"?

    http://www.domain.com/search/blue%20bottle

    Or does the space character (I guess the search engine would actually see a space and not %20?) matter?

  2. #2
    Senior Member chromate's Avatar
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    Just looking at my post, it seems like it will be a problem

  3. #3
    Registered Mike's Avatar
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    I think there's an article on this somewhere...

    I'll have a look.
    Don't you just love free internet games ?

  4. #4
    Senior Member chromate's Avatar
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    I've read the one about search engine friendly URL's on this site, which you may be thinking of. But I haven't seen anything about spaces in the URL. If you do find anything though, I'd appreciate it

  5. #5
    Registered Mike's Avatar
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    Hmmm...Can't find it. Sure I've read one though.

    Anyway, from what I've heard it's bad for you to do that - and better to use dash or underscore.

    I'm sure Chris will be able to confirm that, or say different though.
    Don't you just love free internet games ?

  6. #6
    Senior Member chromate's Avatar
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    Yeh, I'm pretty certain that it's not a good idea. Just wanted to make sure before I add the code to replace a space character with an underscore on one page and then have it taken away again on the resulting page. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible

  7. #7
    Administrator Chris's Avatar
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    URLs with urlencoded spaces work, but you're better off not using them.
    Chris Beasley - My Guide to Building a Successful Website[size=1]
    Content Sites: ABCDFGHIJKLMNOP|Forums: ABCD EF|Ecommerce: Swords Knives

  8. #8
    Senior Member chromate's Avatar
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    If I was to replace them, would it be better to use a hyphen or an undersocre?

  9. #9
    Administrator Chris's Avatar
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    hyphen
    Chris Beasley - My Guide to Building a Successful Website[size=1]
    Content Sites: ABCDFGHIJKLMNOP|Forums: ABCD EF|Ecommerce: Swords Knives

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