Understanding the Parts of a URL: A Guide for Website Optimization & Shopify Success

Introduction

Ever wonder what makes up a website URL and why it matters for SEO and user experience? Whether you’re working with a Shopify expert in Montreal or running your store, understanding the parts of a URL is essential for web success.

URLs aren’t just web addresses—they impact search visibility, user trust, and how easily your site gets crawled by search engines. In this guide, we’ll break down all the URL components, from root paths to slugs, and explain how they impact your online store’s performance.

What Is a URL?

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the full web address you type into your browser to access a specific page. It's made up of several URL components, each with a purpose. Knowing these parts is especially crucial for any Shopify web development company or digital marketer looking to improve website structure and SEO.

The 6 Essential Parts of a URL (with Examples)

Let’s break down the anatomy of a URL using this sample:

https://www.mystore.ca/products/wedding-tent?color=white&utm_source=google

1. Protocol (Scheme)

• Example: https://
  
  

• This tells the browser how to communicate with the server. Today, HTTPS is a must for SEO and security. A website optimization agency will always ensure HTTPS is used.
  
  

2. Subdomain

• Example: www.
  
  

• Not always required, but commonly used. You can also create custom subdomains like shop. or blog.
  
  

3. Domain Name

• Example: mystore.ca
  
  

• This is your brand's digital home and should reflect your business. For Canadian businesses, a .ca domain builds trust locally.
  
  

4. Top-Level Domain (TLD)

• Example: .ca
  
  

• Indicates the site’s purpose or country. A .ca extension is great for businesses targeting Canadian shoppers.
  
  

5. Path (Root Path + Slug)

• Example: /products/wedding-tent
  
  

• The path tells the browser where to find a specific page. It consists of:
  
  

• Root Path: /products/
  
  

• Slug: wedding-tent
  
  

Together, they form the slug anatomy, which should be short, relevant, and keyword-optimized.

6. Query String

• Example: ?color=white&utm_source=google
  
  

• These are parameters that pass data to servers or tracking tools. They’re important for analytics, personalization, and ads—but they should be clean and purposeful.
  
  

Why URL Structure Matters for SEO

• Boosts Crawlability

Clear URL paths help search engines understand your site hierarchy. Use words with the root path (like /collections/tents/) to signal topic relevance.

• Enhances Click-Through Rates (CTR)

Readable, relevant slugs increase user trust and likelihood to click. Compare:

❌ /prd123/456?id=abc
✅ /products/eco-wedding-tent

• Reduces Bounce Rates

A clean, descriptive URL gives users confidence they’re landing on the right page. This improves engagement—something Google loves.

URL Best Practices from a Shopify Expert in Montreal

If you’re building or optimizing a Shopify store, keep these URL tips in mind:

1. Keep It Simple & Short

Your slug anatomy should be minimal and match user search intent. Example:

• Good: /collections/wooden-poles
  
  

• Bad: /collections/2022-products-category-a-poles
  
  

2. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Don’t cram too many keywords into the URL. Focus on readability over repetition.

3. Use Hyphens, Not Underscores

Google treats hyphens as word separators. Underscores (_) are not ideal for SEO.

4. Be Consistent

Keep lowercase formatting and standardized paths across your entire site. Inconsistent URLs confuse both users and search engines.

5. Set Up Redirects Correctly

When changing URLs, always use 301 redirects to preserve link equity. A reputable Shopify web development company will manage this properly during migrations or redesigns.

Understanding Uniform Type Identifiers (UTIs)

While not always visible in the URL, Uniform Type Identifiers (UTIs) are used in background metadata to describe file types (e.g., public.jpeg for images). On Shopify, this becomes relevant when uploading digital files or configuring product media.

Why does it matter?

• UTIs affect how browsers or apps handle files.
  
  

• Misconfigured UTIs can cause display or security issues, especially for downloadable products.
  
  

Your dev or website optimization agency should ensure proper file types are used and served with correct headers.

Shopify URL Structure: What’s Different?

Shopify automatically generates URLs based on product titles, collections, blogs, and pages. While you can’t remove certain fixed paths like /products/ or /collections/, you can:

• Optimize the slug (/products/white-parasol)
  
  

• Use redirects for cleaner URLs
  
  

• Avoid duplicate content with canonical tags
  
  

For advanced customization, work with a Shopify expert in Montreal who understands Shopify’s unique constraints and can align the structure with best SEO practices.

Tools to Audit and Optimize Your URLs

Here are a few tools every Shopify web development company or marketer should use:

• Google Search Console: Check for crawl errors and URL indexing issues
  
  

• Ahrefs / SEMrush: Analyze URL performance and backlinks
  
  

• Screaming Frog: Audit your entire site’s URL structure, redirects, and metadata
  
  

• Shopify SEO apps: Like Smart SEO, Plug in SEO, or SEO Manager
  
  

Final Thoughts

Understanding the parts of a URL isn’t just for developers—it’s for anyone serious about eCommerce success and SEO optimization.

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