What Is a Permalink?
A permalink is the permanent web address of a single page or post on your site. It is what visitors see in the address bar and what they share, link to, and bookmark. A clear permalink helps both readers and search engines understand a page. This guide explains what permalinks are, why the structure matters, how to set one in WordPress, and the care needed when changing them on a live site. Every JetHost hosting plan supports the clean, friendly permalinks WordPress offers.
What a permalink is
A permalink, short for “permanent link”, is the full web address that points to one specific post or page. For example, a blog post about permalinks might live at a clear address that ends in the post name. Because people and other websites link to this address, it is meant to stay the same over time, which is where the “permanent” part of the name comes from.
Why the structure matters
The structure is the pattern WordPress uses to build each address. A readable structure that includes the post name, rather than a string of numbers, is easier for visitors to understand and more likely to be clicked when shared. Search engines also read the words in an address as a hint about the page, so a clear structure supports both readability and SEO.
How to set a permalink structure
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings → Permalinks. You will see several ready-made options. Choose Post name for a clean, readable address, or build a custom pattern if you need categories or dates in the link. Click Save Changes and WordPress applies the new structure across the site. You can also edit the individual slug of any single post in its editor.
Best practice and a caution
Keep permalinks short, descriptive, and in lower case, using hyphens between words. The Post name structure suits most sites. Set your structure once when you build the site and leave it alone. Changing permalinks on a live site changes every address, which breaks existing links and can harm your search rankings. If you must change them, set up redirects from the old addresses to the new ones so visitors and search engines are not lost.
On JetHost hosting
On JetHost hosting, clean permalinks work out of the box, so you can pick the Post name structure and go. If you change a structure later and need help setting up redirects so no links break, open a ticket and our team will guide you through it.
JetHost Experts Tip
Decide on your permalink structure before you publish your first posts. Setting it early means you never have to change it later, which is the one thing that reliably breaks old links.
Frequently asked questions
For most sites the Post name structure is best. It gives short, readable addresses that include keywords, which helps both visitors and search engines.
You can, but it changes the page address and breaks any existing links. If you change it, set up a redirect from the old address to the new one so visitors still arrive.
Yes, in a small but real way. A clear address with relevant words helps search engines understand the page and is easier for people to read and share.
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Need more help?
Need a hand with permalinks or redirects on a site you host with us? Open a ticket through Client Area → Support Tickets and we will help.
