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To include a post’s category path in its WordPress URL, go to Settings → Permalinks, choose Custom Structure, and enter /%category%/%postname%/. WordPress uses the category slug in the post permalink; for a post in a child category, the URL can show the parent and child as nested directories.
Set up the category hierarchy
- In the dashboard, go to Posts → Categories.
- Create or edit a category, give it a clear slug, and select its parent in the Parent field if it is a subcategory. WordPress uses category slugs in URLs. See the Posts Categories screen documentation.
A child category can be assigned to a post whether or not you also explicitly assign the post to its parent.
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Add the category path to post URLs
- Go to Settings → Permalinks.
- Select Custom Structure and enter
/%category%/%postname%/. The structure must identify an individual post; WordPress advises ending it with%postname%or%post_id%. - Click Save Changes.
- Open a post assigned to a child category and check its URL. The
%category%tag inserts the category path. WordPress.org’s Customize permalinks documentation explains that nested subcategories appear as nested directories in the URI.
For example, a post with the slug red-fox in the mammals subcategory under animals can have a path like /animals/mammals/red-fox/. This illustrates the structure; the final URL depends on the site’s actual category and post slugs.
Choose between category-based and shorter post URLs
| Permalink choice | What it changes | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
/%category%/%postname%/ |
Includes the selected category path and post slug in individual post URLs. | Makes hierarchy visible, but can make URLs longer and ties them to category assignments. |
/%postname%/ |
Uses the post slug without a category path. | Keeps individual post URLs shorter; WordPress lists “Post name” as a built-in permalink option. |
| Custom category base | Changes the prefix on category archive URLs, such as /topics/animals/. |
It does not add category paths to individual post URLs. |
WordPress’s Settings Permalinks screen guide covers the built-in options and category base. The standard setting lets you change that base from the default category, but does not remove the base altogether.
Know what happens with multiple categories
If a post has more than one category, WordPress includes only one in the permalink, not every assigned category. The current WordPress guide says it selects the displayed category alphabetically; it notes that plugins can let you choose which category appears. Consider this when deciding whether your post URLs should depend on category assignment.
Protect existing links when changing permalinks
WordPress describes permalinks as permanent and advises against changing them. On an established site, changing the structure can change post URLs, so plan how readers and other sites will reach existing links and check important old URLs after the change. The cited WordPress documentation does not say that this setting automatically creates redirects.
If the new URLs do not work
Pretty permalinks may require server configuration. WordPress notes that the setup depends on the hosting environment; if the URLs fail after saving, contact your hosting provider and ask whether the server supports the selected permalink structure. See the permalink guidance and Permalinks screen documentation.
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What this means for SEO
WordPress describes readable URLs as useful to people and search engines, but the documentation cited here does not establish that adding category levels produces a ranking benefit. Choose a structure for clarity and stability rather than assuming a deeper category path will improve rankings.
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