TYPO3 Glossary

Routing

TYPO3 Routing

When creating a website, one of the most important considerations is how users navigate through the site. In TYPO3, this is managed by something called "routing". But don't worry if you're not familiar with the term - this guide will explain it to you in simple terms.

What is routing?

Routing in TYPO3 is like a map that guides users to different pages on your website. Just like a GPS helps you reach your destination by following a specific route, TYPO3 routing helps visitors find the pages they want to see by using specific URLs (the web addresses you see in your browser).

For example, if you have a page about your company's services, you may want the URL to be simply www.yoursite.com/services. TYPO3 Routing makes this possible.

Why is routing important?

Routing is crucial because it makes your website more user-friendly and improves its SEO (search engine optimization). When URLs are clean and easy to understand, search engines like Google can better understand what your pages are about, which can help your website rank higher in search results.

In addition, a well-structured URL makes it easy for users to remember and share links to your pages, resulting in a better user experience.

How does routing work in TYPO3?

TYPO3 uses a configuration system to manage routing. Here is a simplified representation of how it works:

  1. Define Routes: You start by defining the paths (routes) for your pages. For example, you could define a route like /about-us for your About Us page.
  2. Link routes to pages: TYPO3 then assigns these routes to specific pages on your website. This means that someone typing www.yoursite.com/about-us us will be taken directly to the About us page.
  3. Customize URLs: You can customize your URLs to make them more user-friendly and SEO-friendly. Instead of a long, complicated URL, you can use something simple and clean like /services/web-design.

Basic steps to set up routing in TYPO3

Setting up routing in TYPO3 is not as hard as it seems. Here is a basic overview:

  1. Enable Routing: Routing is often enabled by default in TYPO3, but if not, you can turn it on via the Site Management module.
  2. Configure Routes: You need to define the routes for your pages. This is done in the config.yaml file or via the TYPO3 backend. Here you enter the paths for your pages.
  3. Test URLs: After you have set up your routes, test the URLs to make sure they work as expected. Visit the URLs in your browser to see if they take you to the correct pages.
  4. Make adjustments: If something isn't working as planned, you can adjust the routes. TYPO3 makes it easy to tweak things until everything runs smoothly.

Conclusion

Routing is an important part of any TYPO3 website. It helps create clear, user-friendly URLs that improve both the user experience and the SEO of your website. Taking the time to set up routing properly will ensure that your visitors can easily find the content they are looking for and that your website is also optimized for search engines.Even though routing may seem a bit technical at first glance, it is easy to set up with TYPO3. Once you've set up your routes, you'll have a well-organized website that's easy to navigate and performs better in search engines.