We recently filmed a video (with
slides
available) to provide more information about the
URL Parameters
feature in Webmaster Tools. The URL Parameters feature is designed for webmasters who want to help
Google crawl their site more efficiently, and who manage a site with—you guessed
it—URL parameters! To be eligible for this feature, the URL parameters must be configured
in key/value pairs like item=swedish-fish or category=gummy-candy in the
URL https://www.example.com/product.php?item=swedish-fish&category=gummy-candy.
URL Parameter settings are powerful. By telling us how your parameters behave and the recommended
action for Googlebot, you can improve your site's crawl efficiency. On the other hand, if
configured incorrectly, you may accidentally recommend that Google ignore important pages,
resulting in those pages no longer being available in search results. (There's an example provided
in our improved
Help Center article.)
So please take care when adjusting URL Parameters settings, and be sure that the actions you
recommend for Googlebot make sense across your entire site.
Written by
Maile Ohye,
Developer Programs Tech Lead
[null,null,[],[[["Webmasters can use the URL Parameters tool in Webmaster Tools to help Google crawl their site more efficiently, especially for sites with URL parameters configured in key/value pairs."],["URL Parameter settings can significantly impact crawl efficiency; using them correctly can improve crawling, while incorrect configuration might lead to important pages being ignored by Google and excluded from search results."],["Google has resources available to help webmasters understand and use the URL Parameters feature, including a recently filmed video with slides and an updated Help Center article."],["It's crucial to exercise caution when adjusting URL Parameter settings, ensuring the recommended actions for Googlebot are appropriate and consistent across the entire site to avoid unintended consequences."]]],[]]
