some URLs better than others: slash discussion

[Simon Gooffin]

Hello Guys,
Recently I found some information regarding correct urls and importance of slash. Let's compare these two urls:

esyndicat.com/demo and esyndicat.com/demo/

Generally, no great changes, just missing slash in the first case.. Is it worth to think about? Yes, it is...

When a browser(or spider) uses the first link it thinks - 'Hmm, is it a link to file or directory? What should I do? Hmm, let's check if there is a file here named demo? Well, I do not see a file so it should be a directory.. So let's go to demo/ directory.. Next time, guys, please put / for me to know it is a directory'.. Too long to be correct...
I think it can be done much faster.. 'Well, I see a link to directory - let's go there'. :)
And eSyndiCat uses this rule. It shows us how search engine friendly eSyndiCat's URLs are :) it's not an advertisment - it's just a fact 8)

[cgc0202]

Simon,

This could be expanded as part of the tutorial, for the Manual, on "How to..." in regard structing directories, index.html and file nomenclatures:

For example: eSyndicat_LD vs eSyndicat-LD

Several here have discussed the aforementioned example, already. I think it was RadioGuy, and others. It would be nice if they could write introductory text materials for these topics

There are some scripting procedures also whereby this URL, for example,

http://www.esyndicat.com/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&t=388

may be transformed to lose the "php" in the file nomenclature. I read a number of people that the "php" file nomenclature is a security risk. It may be a reason why Google has an automated "Caution" note, when such a URL are included in the emails of customers

subseo was also talking about path route short cuts in another thread here

http://www.esyndicat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435

I do not know exactly how the scripting is done, but I have read this trick suggested in a number of places. It is part of the goal to make stuff more visitor-friendly and I read that they are also good in terms of search engines.

All these features would be good information for people who do not have much technical background, like me.

cgc0202

[Simon Gooffin]

well, I will arrange our ideas in one complete article, summarize it and add to our Wiki