How to Avoid Duplicate URL Slugs

Every page needs a unique URL. When two items want the same slug, systems resolve it in ways that are not always ideal, such as adding "-2" to the end.

How duplicates happen

• Two blog posts with the same or similar titles.
• Products with the same name in different sizes or colors.
• A page and a media attachment sharing a name.
• Deleted items still reserving their slug, for example posts in a trash folder.
• Content imported twice during a migration.

Why "-2" slugs are a problem

• They look unprofessional and give no hint of the difference between pages.
• Visitors may land on the wrong version.
• Two similar pages can compete with each other in search results.

Strategies to prevent duplicates

1. Add a distinguishing word: /chocolate-cake-recipe and /vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe instead of /chocolate-cake-2.
2. Use hierarchy where it makes sense: /events/2026/conference and /events/2027/conference.
3. Consolidate similar content into one stronger page with a redirect from the other.
4. Empty the trash or check archived items before reusing a slug.
5. Enforce uniqueness in code with a database unique index and a check before saving.

Product variants

For products available in multiple colors or sizes, it is usually better to have one product URL with variant options than separate near-identical pages. If variants need their own pages, include the attribute in the slug: /trail-runner-x2-blue.

Bulk checks

When preparing many slugs at once, generate them with the slug generator in bulk mode, paste the results into a spreadsheet and use conditional formatting or a duplicate-check function to spot collisions before importing.

Frequently asked questions

How to avoid duplicate slugs?

To avoid duplicate slugs, add a distinguishing word, check existing items before publishing and enforce a unique slug in your database. A slug collision otherwise produces messy "-2" URLs.