Maximum Length URL That Search Engines Will Follow & Index

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Fold, Feb 16, 2007.

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  1. #1
    Hi everyone.

    I've been unsuccessful in finding this out. I'm curious to know if anybody has anything concrete regarding a maximum URL length that the engines will consider following and indexing. All I've found is basically speculation that shorter URLs and less parameters are better. Okay, that's a given. But is there an actual limit on URL length?

    Perhaps you've tested this, read about it somewhere or maybe you've seen an extremely long URL in the SERPs at some point? Any info would be appreciated.

    Thanks
     
    Fold, Feb 16, 2007 IP
  2. ISU

    ISU Well-Known Member

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    #2
    i think that the shorter url is better just because people could easily remember it and then they will be typing it they wouldnt misspel it, I dont think that search engines care how long is your url..
     
    ISU, Feb 16, 2007 IP
  3. philski

    philski Well-Known Member

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    #3
    hi the absolute length of a url is around 2500 characters
    this is a really bad example, but you have to remeber every folder and everyfile is a seperate url
    http://www.ihave-a-verylongurlthatw...rlsarelong/gotolevel5/omg_itsgettingdark.html

    or look at any ebay listing url they takes up over 1000 characters.. and they always rank

    the length for a top level domain is 60 -68 characters , ie shorturl.com
    or about the same as the title length for Google, thats from memory, but i know its on the money,

    hyphens add to the length and waste valuable alphabetical space, but make no difference to the engines, and can actually help break up words, the engines dont always get it right, a classic example of search engines getting it wrong is

    ultimatesexchange.com = an exchange site

    i have one domain that has 4 hyphens and is 48 characters in length, and it still ranks for a very hard phrase, ie search engine optimization seo.
    and people dont need to type in search, they just click,
    i also have 3 letter dot.coms that im stuffed if i can get to rank, for anything,

    as long as your domain is about what your selling, preferably exactly, your on the right track,

    hope that helps,

    Kindest regards
    Phillip
     
    philski, Feb 16, 2007 IP
  4. Fold

    Fold Peon

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    #4
    Thanks for the nudge in the direction of eBay, a great example that shows the engines will follow extremely long URLs, and a good place to start trying to nail down an actual figure.

    When you say the maximum is 2500 characters, where do you get this from? I've seen various sources of information about how many characters browsers will accept, down to 2000 ish for IE... but nothing on SE's.

    Although I'm well aware of the benefits of short, relevant URLs, I'm really not concerned with usability in this case.
     
    Fold, Feb 23, 2007 IP