What is the difference between the `{id}` and `{filename}` variables in AnQiCMS custom rewrite rules, and when should they be used?

As an experienced website operator proficient in AnQiCMS, I know that URL structure is crucial for both the SEO performance and user experience of a website. AnQiCMS's powerful pseudo-static feature allows us to flexibly customize website links, where{id}and{filename}It is two core variables, each representing different meanings and usage scenarios. Understanding their differences and making appropriate choices is a key step in building an efficient website.

Optimize URL structure:{id}With{filename}The deep consideration

In the custom pseudo-static rules of AnQiCMS,{id}and{filename}Is used as a placeholder to dynamically generate URL paths.These variables play a crucial role in the URL construction of documents, categories, single pages, and tags.Their selection is not arbitrary but requires a comprehensive judgment based on the operational objectives of the website, SEO strategy, and user habits.

{id}The characteristics and applicable scenarios of variables

{id}Variables represent the unique numeric identifier of content in AnQiCMS, usually the primary key ID of the content in the database. When we choose to use{id}forarchive==/{module}-{id}.htmlThe generated URL will be/article-123.htmlor/product-456.htmllinks with only numbers.

{id}The prominent feature ofstabilityanduniqueness.Each content item has a fixed, unique ID, which makes the URL structure very concise and error-free, and highly consistent in internal data association.Even if the title or alias of the content changes, the ID remains the same, so the URL will not change, which helps to avoid dead links.

However,{id}The disadvantages are also obvious: itlacks semantics.Users cannot obtain specific information from the URL directly, which may not be**a choice for user experience and search engine optimization (SEO).The search engine, while identifying numeric IDs during the crawling and understanding of pages, usually prefers URLs with semantic keywords.

Therefore,{id}Variables are usually applicable in the following scenarios:

• Internal system linksWhen the URL is mainly used for internal jumps within the system or as an API interface path, stability has a higher priority than semantics.
• The content is extremely large or the title is prone to change.For websites with frequent content updates and frequently changing titles, using{id}can minimize the SEO risks and management costs caused by URL changes.
• Pursuit of extreme simplicityIf the website design style tends to be minimalist, and you do not want the URL to be too long or contain too much information,{id}it is a feasible option.

{filename}The characteristics and applicable scenarios of variables

{filename}The variable represents the content ofCustom URL alias.In AnQiCMS, this alias is usually automatically generated from the title's pinyin or English, or can be manually input and adjusted by operations personnel to ensure semanticization and uniqueness.page==/{filename}.htmlIf so, the "About Us" page may generate/about-us.htmlURL. Documents, categories, single pages, and tags all support setting through the "Custom URL" field{filename}.

{filename}its prominent advantages lie in itssemanticsandSEO friendliness.URL containing keywords can help search engines better understand page content, thus possibly improving keyword rankings.At the same time, for users, semantically meaningful URLs are more readable and memorable, which helps to enhance the user experience.

But{filename}Also brings certain management challenges:

• Maintain uniqueness: Ensure that each{filename}Uniqueness within the entire station, AnQiCMS will automatically handle duplicate situations (such as adding random numbers), but **the practice is to have manual intervention to make it more meaningful.
• Change riskIf the title of the content or manually set{filename}The URL will also change, which may cause the original link to become invalid. It needs to be properly handled through a 301 redirect to avoid affecting SEO.

{filename}Variables are more suitable for the following situations:

• Pursue SEO advantagesFor articles, product detail pages, or important category and tag pages, use keywords that include:{filename}The ability to provide more contextual information to search engines, which helps improve natural search rankings.
• Enhance user experience：Clear and readable URLs allow users to have a preliminary understanding of the page content, enhancing trust and navigation experience.
• Consistency of brand and contentThe URL and title content are consistent, enhancing brand image and content theme.
• The scale of the website is moderate, manageable.：For websites with controllable content volume and dedicated operation personnel maintaining URL strategies,{filename}they can maximize their value.

Core differences and selection strategies

{id}With{filename}The main differences lie inthe degree of semanticizationandMaintenance Cost.{id}It is a pure identifier, stable but lacks information;{filename}It is a semantic expression, beneficial for SEO and users, but attention should be paid to uniqueness and redirection when changing.

When making a choice in practice, there is no absolute **answer, but rather a combination of specific content types and operational strategies is required:

• Document detail page (articles, products)：English usually strongly recommends using{filename}。For example/news/seo-optimization-guide.htmlor/products/anqicms-enterprise-edition.html。This can maximize SEO benefits and provide users with more friendly links. If the title is too long or contains special characters, it will cause the generated{filename}Not ideal, should be optimized manually.
• Category list pageAlso recommended to use:{filename}(or}{catname}It has similar functions to:{filename}for example/category/web-design.html. Clear classification URLs help users understand the structure of the website and conduct in-depth browsing.
• Single-page (About Us, Contact Information)These pages are the basic components of the website, using{filename}You can build URLs like/about.html//contact.htmlwhich are intuitive and easy to remember.
• Tag List Page：Similarly, using{filename}You can create such/tags/seo-tools.htmlURLs, which help to aggregate content related to the theme and enhance the SEO value of the tabs.

Under any circumstances, once the pseudo-static rule is selected and operation begins, the URL structure should be maintained as much as possible.stability.If it is indeed necessary to change, be sure to configure the 301 redirect properly, permanently redirecting the old URL to the new URL to avoid loss of traffic and SEO weight.The 301 redirect management feature of AnQiCMS is set up for this.

By processing{id}and{filename}A deep understanding and reasonable application of variables, the operator of AnQiCMS can construct a high-quality URL structure that is friendly to search engines and conforms to users' browsing habits, thereby gaining an advantage in the fierce online competition.

Common Questions and Answers (FAQ)

问：我应该为所有内容都选择English{filename}作为伪静态规则吗？答：并非如此。虽然{filename}It is usually more beneficial for SEO and user experience, but it also increases maintenance costs. For content with frequently changing titles and lower SEO importance, or in extremely large websites, using stable{id}It may be more appropriate. The core principle is to decide based on the nature of the content and the operational objectives.

Question: If I use{filename}, but the title of the content has changed, what will happen to the old URL?答：If the content title changes, and you have used pseudo-static rules,{filename}Then the newly generated URL will be automatically updated according to the new title.The old URL will become an invalid link (404 error) unless you manually set the old URL to redirect to the new URL in the '301 Redirect Management' section of the AnQiCMS backend.{filename}pay special attention to the management aspects to avoid SEO loss.

Q:{catname}and{filename}What are the differences in the pseudo-static rules?Answer: In the pseudo-static rules of AnQiCMS,{catname}and{filename}It is used to represent the custom alias of category in the construction of URLs related to classification. In fact,{catname}it is a special alias variable for category.{filename}is a more generic alias variable that can be used for various content types such as documents, single pages, and tags.In the pseudo-static rules of the category, both are often considered equivalent and both map to the 'Custom URL' field of the category.It is more about habit or specific naming preference to choose one, but they are all intended to provide semantically meaningful URLs.