What is Trailing Slash?

Trailing Slash - a common term in web development, is the slash symbol (/) placed at the end of a URL. It seems like an insignificant symbol, but it plays a crucial role in determining how URLs function and how web pages are displayed to users.

When it comes to website URLs, trailing slashes can make the difference between two distinct pages or represent a single page with different parameters. For example, https://www.example.com/about-us/ is recognized as a directory while https://www.example.com/about-us is considered a file. In simple terms, omitting or adding this small symbol can affect website performance, search engine rankings and user experience.

The presence or absence of trailing slashes will depend on server configuration and user preferences. While some servers add them automatically when necessary, others disregard them entirely. Similarly, users may choose to include them manually when sharing links or typing URLs directly into their browsers.