Yes, there is a difference for search engines between URLs with GET parameters and direct addresses, but this does not mean that one option is always better than the other. Here are the key points to consider:
1. Understanding GET parameters
GET parameters (e.g., https://example.com/page?param=value) can be harder for search engines to interpret, especially when:
- There are many unnecessary or redundant parameters.
- Parameters create duplicate content (for example, multiple URLs leading to the same page but with different parameters).
2. Direct URLs (Clean URLs)
Clean URLs (CURLs), such as https://example.com/page, are generally better perceived by search engines because:
- They appear cleaner and more logical.
- Clean URLs are typically associated with higher-quality websites.
- Users are more likely to click on understandable links, which improves CTR (click-through rate).
3. How search engines index GET parameters
Search engines (Google, Yandex, etc.) are capable of handling URLs with parameters, but:
- They may consider them as separate pages even if the content is identical.
- This can lead to duplicate content issues and dilution of page weight (PageRank).
4. SEO practices for working with URLs
- Use clean URLs (CURLs) wherever possible. For example:
Bad: https://example.com/product?id=123
Good: https://example.com/product/123- If GET parameters are necessary, set canonical URLs in meta tags (
<link rel="canonical" href="...">) to tell search engines which version is the primary one. - Configure robots.txt and URL parameters in Google Search Console to manage indexing of parameters.
- Avoid long or complex parameter chains that can confuse search engines.
5. When are GET parameters justified?
GET parameters are acceptable if:
- They are used for filters, sorting, or other temporary operations that don’t affect the core content of the page.
- The parameters do not generate significant duplicate content.
6. Practical examples
- If your site is an online store, URLs with parameters for sorting and filtering, such as
?sort=price&filter=color, should not be indexed. You can block such pages from search engines using meta robots (noindex) or robots.txt. - Main pages (such as category and product pages) should have clean URLs to rank better.
Conclusion
Clean URLs are preferred for SEO as they are better understood by both users and search engines. GET parameters are acceptable but require proper management to avoid duplication and confusion in indexing.