A clean and logically structured URL architecture enhances both user navigation and search engine comprehension of website content. The Kleecks URL Hierarchy Editor provides a controlled environment for defining and managing URL rewriting logic, allowing precise configuration of hierarchical rules without requiring manual URL manipulation.
Step 1: Identify the parent variable for URL hierarchy
The first step involves defining a variable that will serve as the reference point for establishing the parent-child relationships within the URL hierarchy. This step is only required if the “Parent URL” logic option is selected in the URL hierarchy configuration.
Depending on the chosen logic, the parent reference can be extracted from different sources:
- It can be derived from the breadcrumb navigation, reflecting the page’s position in the site structure (this requires defining a breadcrumb variable).
- Alternatively, it can be manually created or assigned via a custom global variable.
To configure this, the “Global Variables Configuration” module is used to create a system variable. For example, when using the breadcrumb as the source, select breadcrumb from the predefined list, assign the appropriate page type, and specify the CSS selector for the breadcrumb container.
This parent variable forms the foundation for applying consistent URL rewriting rules and accurately representing the site hierarchy.
Step 2: Configure the URL hierarchy
Next, the configuration of URL rewriting logic is performed in the “URL rewrite configurations” widget under the “SEO URLs” section. Within the “Modify the URL hierarchy” tab, a new rule is added and customized for the relevant page type.
Parent page determination can be driven by multiple logic sources:
- Local Root
Sets the parent page to the root directory associated with the current language or localization. This option builds the URL hierarchy relative to the language-specific root of the site. This option does not require defining a breadcrumb variable. - Parent URL
Uses the value from a predefined global variable representing the parent URL. This requires the parent URL variable to be declared and configured. - Breadcrumb Last Element
Uses the last item in the breadcrumb trail as the parent page. When this option is selected, a breadcrumb variable must be defined and configured accordingly. - Breadcrumb Second Last Element
Uses the second-to-last element of the breadcrumb trail as the parent page. This option also requires a configured breadcrumb variable. - From Global Variables
Allows the use of any custom global variable that has been previously defined to determine the parent page. This option requires the creation and configuration of a custom variable suitable for the site’s specific logic.
Step 3: Implementation example
Let’s consider a product page with the following breadcrumb:
Home → Women → Tops → Hoodies and Sweatshirts
The breadcrumb represents the page’s position within the site’s hierarchy. When configuring the URL hierarchy, the “Breadcrumb second last element” option uses the penultimate breadcrumb item as the parent page for URL construction.
In this example:
- The second-to-last breadcrumb element is Tops.
- Kleecks automatically rewrites the product URL to place it under the Tops category, rather than under the more specific Hoodies and Sweatshirts.
The original URL was /tops/hoodies-and-sweatshirts/cool-hoodie, and the rewritten URL with “Breadcrumb second last element” will be /tops/cool-hoodie. This approach ensures that URLs remain consistent, logical, and SEO-friendly, reflecting the broader category hierarchy rather than overly granular subcategories.
Once defined, the applied logic is propagated automatically across all pages of the same type. This ensures consistent, semantically meaningful, and SEO-friendly URLs that accurately represent the underlying content hierarchy.
Advanced customisation, still accessible
While the interface is designed to empower non-developers, some advanced customisations, like complex animations, conditional behaviours, or highly specific design rules, may still benefit from a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
This balance between simplicity and flexibility gives marketers freedom to create, while keeping full technical control available when needed.
Scalable and efficient architecture management
The Kleecks URL Hierarchy Editor simplifies the management of large and complex website structures by providing a centralized system for defining URL hierarchies. The result is a fast, efficient, and reliable method for maintaining a clear and search-optimized URL taxonomy.
Discover how the Kleecks URL Hierarchy Editor can help your team take full control of website design and performance.