This document discusses search engine friendly (SEF) URLs in Joomla. It describes the different types of SEF URLs including the standard ugly/non-SEF URLs, native Joomla SEF URLs using routers, and third party add-on extensions. The benefits and disadvantages of each approach are outlined. Native SEF URLs require component developers to write routers while add-ons handle SEF URLs externally through a database. Issues like duplicates and developer ignorance are also addressed along with best practices for component authors.

1. Joomla! CMS a SEF URL
Michal Unzeitig
michal.unzeitig@artio.net
www.artio.net
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

2. ARTIO – Brief Introduction
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Software Development (general)
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Open-source Implementation & Development
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Working with Joomla since 2006
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Authors of JoomSEF & sevaral other popular
Joomla components
www.artio.net
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

3. SEF URL
What is SEF?
Search Engine Friendly (and human as well)
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good for search engines (keywords in URL)
good for humans – looks better, easier to remember
mirrors site structure
hides system parameters
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

4. SEF URL
What is URL?
(just kidding)
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Typical Joomla (non-SEF, raw) URL
http://domain.com/index.php?
Ontologie:
option=com_content&
=> component
struktura metadat,
view=article&
=> view
vzájemné vazby
id=3:welcome-to-your-blog&catid=9& => ids
Itedmid=101
=> menu rel.
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

5. URLs In Joomla – Standard Types
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Ugly (non-SEF)
http://domain.com/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=3:welcome-toyour-blog&catid=9&Itemid=101
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Joomla native SEF (using routers)
no mod_rewrite:
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
http://domain.com/index.php/3-welcome-to-your-blog
with mod_rewrite:
http://domain.com/3-welcome-to-your-blog
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

6. URLs In Joomla - mod_rewrite
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Apache mod_rewrite
powerful Apache web server module,
allowing URL pre-processing
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

7. URLs In Joomla - Add-ons
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Joomla 3rd Party Add-on Extensions
sh404sef, JoomSEF, AceSEF
http://domain.com/blog/welcome-to-your-blog
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

8. Basic Comparison
Advantages
Disadvantages
No SEF
Fast
Consumes no resources
Native SEF
Resource not-demanding Include ID
Fixed Format
Needs Support by Ext.
No Central Management
Add-on SEF
Clean URLs
Needs more resources
Variability
Problematic for begginers
Ext. Support
Manageable at one place
Additional Tools
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014
Not friendly at all

9. Native VS Add-on (DB) SEF
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Native SEF URLs need to be fully re-translatable,
Add-on ones need not (DB use)
=> configurability and freedom for users
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include category? (yes/no)
include product name? (yes/no)
Ontologie:
Native SEF support needs to bestruktura metadat,
built-in by
component developer
vzájemné vazby
Add-on author can add support externally
Add-on SEF URLs may not be suitable for large
databases
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

10. How It Works
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Native SEF
URL translation without usage of DB
router (piece of component code) must be able
to translate URL from/to SEF format
non-SEF URL → SEF URL → non-SEF URL
Ontologie:
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Limitations:
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struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
SEF URL has to be created according to
„translation rules“
Often has to include IDs
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

11. How It Works
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Add-on SEF
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Use DB storage for generated SEF URLs
→ need not to be able to „understand“ the URL
Create SEF URL
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Detect URLs in output code
Ontologie:
Build a SEF version for the URL
struktura metadat,
Store it to DB
vzájemné vazby
Load (Process) SEF URL
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Look into DB if URL is known
Load the original non-SEF variables
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

12. SEF Add-ons Caveats 1
Duplicates
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Duplicate resource names (article-2, article-3)
Additional variables in URLs
(e.g. sorting, switches, layout options, etc.)
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

13. SEF Add-ons Caveats 2
Multiple Paths to a Resource
ex.: Article linked from 2 menus, or different places.
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One or more URLs? (SEO point of view)
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Want to show different modules? (user view)
?option=com_content&view=article&id=3:welcome-to-yourblog&catid=9&Itemid=101
?option=com_content&view=article&id=3:welcome-to-yourblog&catid=9&Itemid=125
Itemid identifies parent menu item.
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

14. SEF Add-ons Caveats 3
Ignorant Extension Developers
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Not using correct Joomla API methods to generate URLs
=> URL cannot be SEFed (method JRoute::_())
Leaving unnecessary variables in URLs
=> causing duplicities
Using too many formats of URLS
=> causing duplicities
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby

15. Duplicate Prevention Methods
Correct Menu Building
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using menu aliases
Non-SEF Variables Definition
virtuemart/list-all-products
index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&sort=price_desc
vzájemné vazby
virtuemart/list-all-products-2
virtuemart/list-all-products?sort=price_desc
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

16. Additional SEF Add-on Tools
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301 Redirect Management
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URL Protection (from deletion)
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Meta-tags Management
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Automatic Meta-tag Generation
Ontologie:
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Sitemap Generation
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Connection to Google Analytics Tools
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Site Protection (SQL Injections, etc.)
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby

17. Component Authors
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Want to have SEF URLs in your component?
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write a router (native SEF)
write a SEF extension for SEF Add-on
Plan desired URLs in advance.
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
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Only put to URL what is really important.
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Limit number of URL types.
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014

18. Thank You
Thank you for your attention.
Ontologie:
struktura metadat,
vzájemné vazby
JoomlaDay Prague, 1.3.2014