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    5. CMS: Creating Unique Dynamic Page URLs

CMS: Creating Unique Dynamic Page URLs

11 min read
The URL slug structure of your dynamic pages determines both the type of dynamic page (list or item) and the actual URL slugs used by each version of a dynamic item page. 

A URL slug represents the exact web address of a specific page on your website. It's the part of the URL that follows your main domain name and helps humans and search engines know what the content is about. 

You may need to add variables to your dynamic item page's URL slug structure to ensure each collection item gets its own unique web address. These variables act as placeholders that are replaced by the actual field values of your collection items.
We're working on releasing the ability to edit specific dynamic item page URLs and set up automatic redirects for the old URLs. 
In this article, learn more about:

About URL slugs and URL slug structures

URL slugs are the characters in the URL (web address) that appear after your domain name. They help humans and search engines understand what the page's content is about. URL slug structures determine how the actual URL slugs are constructed and what 'type' of dynamic page is used (list or item).

For example, in the URL: www.your-domain.com/felines/large/bengal
  • The URL slug is: /felines/large/bengal
  • The editable URL slug structure is: felines/{category-field}/{primary-field}

In the SEO tab of your page settings, you can edit the following default URL slug structures:
  • Dynamic list pages: https://www.{your-domain.com}/{collection-name}
  • Dynamic item pages: https://www.{your-domain.com}/{collection-name}/{primary-field}
    Note: CMS adds -1 after the collection name with whichever type of dynamic page you create 2nd. You can remove this as long as the slug structure does not conflict with another used on your site. 

In your collection, the Page Link fields have the same name as their corresponding dynamic pages. A Flag icon appears next to your primary field and SLUG appears next to the name of each field used in a URL slug. 

URL slug structures define dynamic page URLs

Whenever you create a dynamic page, its Page Link field is added to your collection. The Page Link field generates the URLs for each item by combining the characters and variables used in the dynamic page's URL slug structure. By default, dynamic item pages add the collection's primary field to the URL slug structure. Fields used in the URL slugs are converted to lowercase letters with dashes replacing any spaces. 
We're working on releasing a feature that will allow you to modify a specific item's dynamic item page URL slug from the Page Link field in your collection. You'll also be able to create a URL redirect that sends visitors and search engines to the new dynamic page URL, in case they visit the old link.
When you add a variable to the slug structure, you choose a collection field that the variable represents. Any variables that exist in the slug structure are replaced by the actual field values for each item. This allows you to use field values from collection items in their dynamic page URLs.
In the example below:
A variable representing the 'Category' field was added to the URL slug structure of the dynamic item page used to display a single item. As a result, the values in the 'Category' field are added to each item's Page Link field to create the URL slugs for each version of the dynamic item page. 

Using variables to change the dynamic page type

Each Page Link field in your collection represents a specific dynamic page and each value in the field represents an item's URL slug. When you add variables to change a dynamic page's URL slug structure, the Page Link field values adjust accordingly. 

If multiple collection items have the same value in this Page Link field, the CMS determines that these items should share the same dynamic item page. So, if this was a dynamic list page, the page converts to a dynamic item page. 

This dynamic item page will have a different version for each unique Page Link value (URL slug). Each version will list the items that share the same URL slug if the page has a repeater, gallery, or table connected to the dynamic page dataset.
In the example below:
A variable representing a 'Category' field was added to the URL slug structure of a dynamic list page. This converted the dynamic list page to a dynamic item page because the Page Link field value is no longer unique to each item. 
In the example below:
The Page Link field now has 2 unique URL slugs. So, its dynamic item page now has 2 versions:
  • 1 version at /felines/large listing the 2 items that share this URL slug
  • 1 version at /felines/medium listing the 3 items that share this URL slug. 

Why you should add variables to dynamic page URLs

For a dynamic item page to have a dedicated version for each collection item, the page's Page Link field needs a unique URL slug. Otherwise, the page cannot exist for each item. You may need to add variables to the URL slug structure, to ensure each item has a unique URL slug.

If multiple items in your collection have the same value in their primary field, and you do not add a variable to the dynamic item page's URL slug structure, only 1 URL is generated for multiple items. This is because the primary field is used in the dynamic item page's URL slug structure by default. Since only 1 URL is created for both items, only 1 item will have a dedicated version of the dynamic item page, the other will not. 
Example:
If your dynamic item page URL slug structure ends with /team/{primary-field}, and 2 items in the collection have "Sara" in the primary field, only 1 URL is generated for /team/sara. So only 1 version of the dynamic item page is created for only 1 of the 2 collection items. 

To solve this, you could add a variable field to the URL slug structure to create unique URL slugs for each item. For example, add a "phone" field if each item has a different value in a "phone" field. The URL would then be /team/sara/{phone} so each item gets its own unique dynamic item page URL.

URL slug structures cannot conflict with existing slug structures

The URL slug structure cannot already be used by other existing pages on your site. To be unique, the URL slug structure cannot have the same prefix (e.g. {Collection name}) and the same number of variables as another page on your site, even if the variables are different. 

The CMS will not allow you to save changes to the URL slug structure if it conflicts with an existing one. So, when updating the URL slug structures of your dynamic pages, make sure they do not have the same number of variables after the same prefix. 

Adding variables to dynamic page URL slug structures

Go to the SEO tab of the relevant dynamic page in your editor to check the URL slug structure. You can then manually edit the structure and add variable fields that change based on each collection item's actual field value. 
Important:
If you change the URL slug structure of your dynamic pages, all the existing links to these pages will no longer work. This affects links within your site, any links you've shared externally, and SEO links in search engines. We're releasing a feature that will let you add an automatic redirect, taking visitors and search engines from the old URL to the new one. 
Wix Editor
Studio Editor
  1. Go to your editor.
  2. Click Pages & Menuon the left side of the editor.
  3. Click Dynamic Pages. 
  4. Hover over the relevant dynamic page and click the More Actions icon  on the right. 
  5. Click SEO.  
  6. Edit the URL slug structure field: 
    • Click Add Variable and choose a text or number field to use its values in the URL slug structure. 
    • Enter text or number values to use static values in the URL slug structure. 
    • Press Enter on your keyboard to save the changes to the URL slug structure. 

Editing URL slugs for specific dynamic item pages

From your collection, you can customize the end of the URL used by specific dynamic item pages. When you change the URL slug, the old links no longer work. However, you can easily add an automatic redirect that takes visitors and search engines from the old URL to the new one. 
Important:
We're working on releasing this feature, which is not yet released in all Wix accounts.

To edit an item's URL slug:

  1. Go to CMS in your site's dashboard. Alternatively, you can click CMS  in your editor, then click Your Collections. 
  2. Click the relevant collection.
  3. Click the relevant Page Link field for the relevant item.
    Note: By default, the Page Link field is titled: {Collection name} (Item)
A screenshot of clicking a Page Link field for an item's dynamic page.
  1. Click the URL Slug field and edit the URL. 
    Tip: If you do not see an Edit item URL slug popup, you do not have access to this feature yet. 
  2. Click the toggle to choose whether to redirect the old URL to the new one: 
    • Enabled: (Recommended) Visitors and search engines that go to the old URL are automatically redirected to the new one. 
    • Disabled: Visitors and search engines that go to the old URL will see a 404 error page. 
  3. Click Save. 
A screenshot of editing a dynamic item page's URL slug.

FAQs

Click a question below to learn more about creating unique dynamic page URLs.

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In This Article

  • About URL slugs and URL slug structures
  • URL slug structures define dynamic page URLs
  • Using variables to change the dynamic page type
  • Why you should add variables to dynamic page URLs
  • URL slug structures cannot conflict with existing slug structures
  • Adding variables to dynamic page URL slug structures
  • Editing URL slugs for specific dynamic item pages
  • FAQs

Related Content

Using Variables in SEO Settings
CMS: Linking to Dynamic Pages
CMS: Working with SEO Settings for Dynamic Pages

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