What Does 'Permalink' Mean?

A permalink, short for “permanent link,” is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is intended to remain unchanged for the lifetime of the content to which it refers. In other words, it is a stable, long-term link to a specific webpage or piece of content.

Permalinks are used to ensure that users and search engines can access a page even if the original URL changes. This is especially important for websites that are frequently updated, as it allows users to access and share pieces of content even if the content has been moved or the website’s overall structure has changed.

Permalinks are also useful for organizing and categorizing content within a website. For example, a blog might use permalinks to structure its pages by date, author, or category.

To create a permalink, a website owner or administrator will typically select some content and then choose a URL structure that will be used to access it. This URL structure should be unique and easy to remember, and it should remain unchanged over time.

Permalinks are typically displayed in the address bar of a web browser, and they can be copied and shared with others as a way to access a webpage. Some websites also include a “permalink” button or link that allows users to easily copy and share the permalink.

More information

Permalinks are usually used to access certain pages on a website. Here are a few examples of how permalinks might be used in HTML:

Blog post permalinks: A blog might use permalinks to structure its content by date, author, or category. For example, a blog post with the title “10 Tips for Better Sleep” might have a permalink that looks like this:

<a href="/blog/10-tips-for-better-sleep">10 Tips for Better Sleep</a>

Product pages: An e-commerce website might use permalinks to access product pages. For example, a product page for a red t-shirt might have a permalink that looks like this:

<a href="/products/red-t-shirt">Red T-Shirt</a>

News articles: A news website might use permalinks to access articles. For example, an article about a new restaurant opening in a city might have a permalink that looks like this:

<a href="/news/new-restaurant-opens-in-city">New Restaurant Opens in City</a>

PDF documents: A website might use permalinks to access PDF documents. For example, a company’s annual report might have a permalink that looks like this:

<a href="/documents/annual-report.pdf">Annual Report</a>