Forum Moderators: phranque
I want the best of both worlds: the savings of relative links and the other benefits of absolute links.
The idea: using a base element (<base href="http://www.domain.com/dir1/dir2/" />) in the head and relative links in the body these benefits.
All of the points in the famous "Relative vs Absolute Addressing" may be addressed by this, I suspect. ( [searchengineworld.com...] )
For example:
1+2. Certainly the base URI + relative links method stop page theft (until the thief edits the page) and solves the problem with pages saved to disk.
3. I've found an example of where it made it into a cached Google page, but didn't keep hunting after I found one... I imagine it happens everywhere?
[edit: Looking at cached pages with base href and without, that use relativeURI-absolute paths as well as relativeURI-relative paths, I would have to conclude that #3 simply isn't an issue. All links I found point to the same page an absolute URI would.]
4. Haven't tested the printing in a browser that would have problems (it should fix it, in theory, but who knows?).
5. As far as benefits for search engines, I don't know, as I have so little experience there.
Reading the HTML 4.01 specs I couldn't figure out exactly how a base URI is supposed to be evaluated, but a FAQ for HTML 2.0 read as a definition: "An absolute URI used in combination with a relative URI to determine another absolute URI."
According to that, base URI (which is an absolute URI) + relative URI = absolute URI.
What do you think?
A good post to read on related topics: [webmasterworld.com...]
Just wanting to note that the SEO effect is something I'd like to ask the experts about. :)
As I understand it, using a base element tag is redundant to a server, although your post lists advantages in other environments. Don't use it at all and use relative addressing if your goal is the smallest possible page.
If your domain name contains keywords that are significant to your site, your keyword density for a page will vary, depending on the addressing scheme you choose. That will impact your SE prominence of course.
Hopefully, an expert will be along soon to add their comments. ;)
Since no "expert" responded (assuming you didn't classify yourself as one?), should I post again in the SEO forum, with just a short, clear question about this specific topic?
Maybe it's not necessary--you said, as I understand, that if the word is in the domain (even if it is squished together without dashes, right?) and that gets into the link href then it will make some difference. That is really all I needed to hear.
Since no "expert" responded (assuming you didn't classify yourself as one?)Hey, I'm no beginner either! :)
Every time I post someting that's inaccurate there seems to be no shortage of people to correct me, ;) so I think this post is probably adequate.
even if it is squished together without dashes, right?Preferences about dashes vs no dashes vary from SE to SE and often between their algo versions but using either is "generally" recognized.
