What Is a URL Slug?
A URL slug is the readable part of a URL that identifies a page. In Shopify, this is often called the handle. For example, in /products/linen-midi-dress, the slug is linen-midi-dress.
Clean slugs help shoppers understand the page, make URLs easier to share, and give search engines a clearer page signal.
What Makes a Good Slug?
A good slug is short, readable, lowercase, and focused on the primary topic of the page.
| Good Practice | Example |
|---|---|
| Use lowercase words | linen-midi-dress |
| Separate words with hyphens | soy-candle-gift-set |
| Remove filler words | womens-leather-tote |
| Keep it stable | Avoid changing URLs after indexing |
Avoid random IDs, dates, keyword stuffing, and unnecessary punctuation.
How to Use This Generator
- Enter a product, collection, blog, or landing page title.
- Choose whether to remove common stop words.
- Review the generated slug and alternatives.
- Copy the clean version into Shopify's URL handle field.
- If replacing an existing URL, create a redirect from the old URL to the new one.
Changing a live Shopify handle changes the URL. Always use redirects when updating indexed or linked pages.
SEO-Friendly Slug Formula
Use this simple structure:
primary-topic + key-attribute + optional-use-case
Examples:
linen-midi-dress
organic-soy-candle-gift-set
shopify-pricing-guide
Tips for Shopify Handles
- Keep handles short enough to read quickly.
- Use the main keyword once.
- Remove words like "the," "and," "for," and "with" when they do not add meaning.
- Avoid special characters and accents in the final URL.
- Do not include temporary sale language.
- Keep URLs stable after launch.
- Create redirects when changing existing handles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are URL slugs important for SEO?
They are a small but useful SEO signal. More importantly, clean slugs improve readability, trust, and internal linking clarity.
Should I change old Shopify URLs?
Only change old URLs when the current handle is confusing, spammy, or inaccurate. If you change one, create a 301 redirect.
Should slugs include stop words?
Usually no. Remove stop words when the slug remains readable without them. Keep them if removing them changes the meaning.
Can two Shopify products have the same handle?
No. Shopify handles need to be unique within the same resource type. If a handle already exists, Shopify may append a number.
About This Tool
This generator helps Shopify merchants create clean handles for products, collections, blogs, and landing pages. It is useful for product uploads, SEO audits, and URL cleanup.