How to Change Knowledge Base Article and Category URL Bases

SoftwareRoad Knowledge Base lets you change the URL bases used for published articles and category pages.

The URL base is the section of the web address that appears before the article or category slug.

For example:

example.com/knowledge-base/how-to-install-the-plugin/

In this address:

knowledge-base

is the article URL base.

Changing these settings can help the knowledge base fit the structure and wording used across your website.

What is an article URL base?

The article URL base appears before the individual article slug.

For example:

example.com/knowledge-base/how-to-activate-your-licence/

The parts are:

• Website address: example.com
• Article URL base: knowledge-base
• Article slug: how-to-activate-your-licence

SoftwareRoad Knowledge Base uses the saved article base for all published knowledge base articles.

What is a category URL base?

The category URL base appears before the category slug.

For example:

example.com/kb-category/getting-started/

The parts are:

• Website address: example.com
• Category URL base: kb-category
• Category slug: getting-started

Changing the category base affects the public URLs used by your knowledge base categories.

Open the URL settings

To change the article or category URL base:

1. Sign in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Open Knowledge Base > Settings.
3. Select the Advanced tab.
4. Find the URL or permalink settings.
5. Enter the new article base.
6. Enter the new category base if required.
7. Select Save Changes.
8. Refresh the WordPress permalink rules.

Test a published article and category page after saving.

Change the article URL base

Enter the wording you want to use before every article slug.

Suitable examples include:

• knowledge-base
• help
• documentation
• docs
• support
• help-centre

For example, changing the article base to:

docs

could produce an address such as:

example.com/docs/how-to-create-a-category/

Use lowercase wording and hyphens between words.

Change the category URL base

The category base should clearly identify category archive pages.

Suitable examples include:

• kb-category
• help-category
• documentation-category
• docs-category
• support-topic
• help-topic

For example:

example.com/help-topic/getting-started/

Choose a base that makes sense alongside the article URL structure.

Keep the bases short

Short URL bases are easier to read and share.

For example:

example.com/docs/install-the-plugin/

is easier to scan than:

example.com/official-product-documentation-articles/install-the-plugin/

Use wording that is clear without making the address unnecessarily long.

Use lowercase letters

Enter URL bases using lowercase letters.

For example:

knowledge-base

rather than:

Knowledge-Base

WordPress normally converts URL slugs to lowercase, but entering them correctly from the beginning keeps the settings consistent.

Use hyphens instead of spaces

URLs cannot contain normal spaces.

Use hyphens between separate words.

For example:

help-centre

rather than:

help centre

Avoid underscores unless your existing website structure already depends on them.

Hyphens are normally clearer for visitors.

Avoid special characters

Keep the URL base simple.

Use:

• Lowercase letters
• Numbers when genuinely needed
• Hyphens

Avoid:

• Spaces
• Apostrophes
• Ampersands
• Question marks
• Slashes
• Full web addresses

Enter only the base itself.

For example:

knowledge-base

not:

https://example.com/knowledge-base

Do not use the same base for articles and categories

Using the same base for both article and category URLs may create conflicts.

For example, avoid setting both fields to:

help

Instead, use something such as:

• Article base: help
• Category base: help-topic

This makes it easier for WordPress to tell article pages and category pages apart.

Avoid existing page slugs

Do not use a URL base that is already being used by another WordPress page, post type or website feature.

For example, if your website already has a page at:

example.com/support/

using support as the knowledge base article base may create a conflict.

Before saving a new base, check whether the address is already used by:

• A WordPress page
• A blog category
• A product section
• Another plugin
• A custom post type
• A redirect
• An old website section

Choose a unique base where possible.

The main knowledge base page is separate

The main WordPress page containing:

has its own page slug.

For example:

example.com/knowledge-base/

The article URL base is managed separately.

It is possible for the main page slug and article base to use similar wording, but you should test the final structure carefully.

Depending on your WordPress setup, using exactly the same slug for both may cause routing problems.

Suggested URL structures

Here are a few simple structures you could use.

Knowledge Base

Main page:

example.com/knowledge-base/

Articles:

example.com/help/how-to-install-the-plugin/

Categories:

example.com/help-topic/getting-started/

Documentation

Main page:

example.com/documentation/

Articles:

example.com/docs/how-to-create-an-article/

Categories:

example.com/docs-category/customisation/

Help Centre

Main page:

example.com/help-centre/

Articles:

example.com/help/how-to-activate-your-licence/

Categories:

example.com/help-topic/licence-and-subscription/

Choose one clear structure and use it consistently.

Refresh WordPress permalinks

After changing a URL base:

1. Open Settings > Permalinks.
2. Do not change the selected permalink structure.
3. Select Save Changes.
4. Clear your website cache.
5. Open a published knowledge base article.
6. Open a published category page.

Saving the Permalinks screen refreshes WordPress rewrite rules.

This is often required before the new addresses work correctly.

What happens to existing article URLs?

Changing the article URL base changes the public address of every knowledge base article.

For example:

Old URL:

example.com/knowledge-base/install-the-plugin/

New URL:

example.com/docs/install-the-plugin/

The article content remains the same, but the old URL may no longer work automatically.

This can affect:

• Search engine results
• Bookmarks
• Shared links
• Support emails
• Internal website links
• Automatic article links
• External links from other websites

Avoid changing the base on an established website unless there is a clear reason.

What happens to category URLs?

Changing the category base changes the address of every knowledge base category page.

For example:

Old URL:

example.com/kb-category/getting-started/

New URL:

example.com/help-topic/getting-started/

The categories and their articles remain in WordPress, but old category links may stop working.

Add redirects for old URLs

When changing URLs on a live website, redirect the old addresses to the new ones.

A permanent redirect tells visitors and search engines that the content has moved.

For example:

/knowledge-base/how-to-install-the-plugin/

should redirect to:

/docs/how-to-install-the-plugin/

You may be able to create redirects through:

• Your hosting control panel
• Your server configuration
• Your existing website redirect system
• Custom WordPress code

Test several old URLs after setting up the redirects.

Do not rely on redirects without testing

After adding redirects, check that:

• Old article URLs open the correct new articles
• Old category URLs open the correct new categories
• There are no redirect loops
• Visitors are not sent to the homepage
• HTTPS remains in use
• Query strings are preserved where needed

A redirect that sends every old article to the main knowledge base page is less helpful than a direct article-to-article redirect.

Update automatic article links

SoftwareRoad Knowledge Base automatic article links use the URLs saved in their rules.

If an article base changes, those saved destinations may still point to the old addresses.

Open:

Knowledge Base > Settings > Articles

Review the Automatic Article Links section and replace any outdated URLs.

Test the links again afterwards.

Update manually added links

Search your knowledge base articles and website pages for links using the old URL base.

Update links in:

• Knowledge base articles
• Normal WordPress pages
• Blog posts
• Navigation menus
• Footer links
• Buttons
• Support pages
• Email templates
• Download instructions

Redirects provide a safety net, but internal links should still point directly to the new URL.

Check the main navigation

If your website menu links to a category or article, update it after changing the URL base.

Open:

Appearance > Menus

or your current WordPress navigation editor.

Check that every knowledge base link opens the correct destination.

Update saved bookmarks and documentation

You may also have old links stored outside WordPress.

Check:

• Customer emails
• Support replies
• Product instructions
• PDF guides
• Application help links
• Social media posts
• Download pages
• Account dashboards

Some of these cannot be updated once they have been sent, which is another reason to avoid changing live URLs unnecessarily.

Article slugs do not change automatically

Changing the article URL base does not normally change the individual article slug.

For example:

Old URL:

example.com/knowledge-base/how-to-install-the-plugin/

New URL:

example.com/docs/how-to-install-the-plugin/

The article slug remains:

how-to-install-the-plugin

Only the base changes.

Category slugs do not change automatically

Changing the category base also leaves the individual category slug in place.

For example:

Old URL:

example.com/kb-category/getting-started/

New URL:

example.com/help-topic/getting-started/

The category slug remains:

getting-started

You can edit the category slug separately if required.

Change an article slug

To change an individual article slug:

1. Open Knowledge Base > All Articles.
2. Edit the article.
3. Find the Permalink or URL section.
4. Change the article slug.
5. Select Update.
6. Test the new URL.

Changing one article slug affects only that article.

Add a redirect from the old address if the article was already public.

Change a category slug

To change a category slug:

1. Open Knowledge Base > Categories.
2. Edit the category.
3. Change the Slug field.
4. Select Update.
5. Refresh WordPress permalinks if required.
6. Test the category page.

Changing a parent category or category slug may also affect child category URLs, depending on the selected structure.

Removing the category base

Some versions of SoftwareRoad Knowledge Base may include an option to remove the category base from public category URLs.

For example:

With a category base:

example.com/kb-category/getting-started/

Without it:

example.com/getting-started/

This creates shorter URLs, but it also increases the chance of conflicts with normal WordPress pages and other content.

Before removing the category base

Check that none of your categories use the same slug as:

• A WordPress page
• A blog post
• A product
• Another taxonomy
• A custom post type
• An existing redirect

For example, a category with the slug:

installation

could conflict with a WordPress page at:

example.com/installation/

Use the base when you need clearer separation between knowledge base content and the rest of the website.

Should you remove the category base?

Removing it can make URLs shorter, but it is not always the best option.

Keep the category base when:

• Your website has many existing pages
• Category slugs may overlap with other content
• You want a clearly organised structure
• You want knowledge base URLs to be easy to identify
• You are not comfortable resolving permalink conflicts

Remove it only after testing the full website carefully.

Test article URLs

After saving the settings:

1. Open the main knowledge base page.
2. Select a category.
3. Open an article.
4. Check the address in the browser.
5. Refresh the page.
6. Test the breadcrumb links.
7. Test the back link.
8. Test a related or recommended article.
9. Open the article in a private browser window.

Repeat the test with several categories and articles.

Test category URLs

Check both:

• Top-level categories
• Child categories

Make sure:

• The correct category opens
• The article list appears
• Breadcrumbs show the correct path
• Parent category links work
• Compact search still works
• The page does not return a 404 error

Check search results

Use the main knowledge base search after changing the URL base.

Open several search results and confirm that they use the new article addresses.

If search results still contain the old base, clear the website cache and test again.

Check Popular and Related Articles

Article lists may be cached.

Test links in:

• Popular Articles
• Related Articles
• Recently Updated Articles
• Recommended Articles
• Category contents lists

Every link should use the new URL structure.

Check canonical URLs

Open a published article and inspect its page source.

The canonical URL should use the new article base.

For example:

https://example.com/docs/how-to-install-the-plugin

It should not continue pointing to the old address.

Clear all website caches if the old canonical URL remains.

Check structured data

Article and breadcrumb structured data should also use the new public URLs.

After changing the base, check that the page source does not contain old domain or path information.

Cached SEO output may need to be cleared.

Check XML sitemaps

If your website creates an XML sitemap, make sure it uses the new knowledge base URLs.

Check that:

• Old article URLs are removed
• New article URLs are present
• Old category URLs are removed
• Unlisted articles remain excluded
• No staging domain appears

The sitemap may need to be regenerated or its cache cleared.

The new URLs return 404 errors

If articles or categories return a page not found error:

1. Open Settings > Permalinks.
2. Select Save Changes.
3. Clear the WordPress cache.
4. Clear the hosting or server cache.
5. Test the URL again.

If the error continues, check whether the new base conflicts with another page or content type.

The old URL still appears

If the old base remains visible:

• Confirm the new settings were saved
• Refresh WordPress permalinks
• Clear all caches
• Test while signed out
• Check whether a redirect is sending you back
• Check that you are opening the current published article

Open the article through Knowledge Base > All Articles > View to check its current permalink.

The URL opens the wrong page

This usually indicates a slug conflict.

Check whether the chosen base is already used by:

• A WordPress page
• A post category
• A product
• Another plugin
• A custom post type

Choose a different base, save the settings and refresh permalinks again.

Category pages open articles instead

The article and category bases may be too similar or identical.

Use separate values such as:

• Article base: docs
• Category base: docs-category

Save the settings and refresh permalinks.

Article links work but categories return 404

Check the category base field and refresh the permalink rules.

Also confirm that:

• The category contains published articles
• The category slug is valid
• The category has not been deleted
• The remove-category-base option is not creating a conflict
• The licence is active

Test a newly created category to see whether the problem affects all categories.

Redirect loops

A redirect loop happens when the old and new addresses repeatedly send visitors back to each other.

Check your redirect rules and make sure:

• The old URL redirects to the new URL
• The new URL does not redirect back
• Both HTTP and HTTPS rules are correct
• www and non-www rules are not conflicting
• Trailing slash rules are consistent

Temporarily disable the new redirect rule if the page cannot be opened.

The URL base cannot be saved

Check that the value contains only a simple slug.

For example:

knowledge-base

Do not enter:

/knowledge-base/

or:

https://example.com/knowledge-base

Remove spaces, special characters and leading or trailing slashes, then save again.

Changes appear in WordPress but not publicly

This is usually caused by caching.

Clear:

1. The WordPress page cache
2. Any server or hosting cache
3. Any content delivery network cache
4. Your browser cache

Then open the website in a private browser window.

Avoid changing URL bases repeatedly

Each change creates another set of old URLs that may need redirects.

Plan the structure before publishing a large number of articles.

A simple and stable URL setup is normally better than repeatedly changing it for small wording improvements.

URL base checklist

Before finishing, check that:

• The article base is short and clear
• The category base is different from the article base
• No existing page uses the same slug
• Lowercase letters and hyphens are used
• WordPress permalinks have been refreshed
• Published articles open correctly
• Category pages open correctly
• Breadcrumbs and back links work
• Search result links use the new URLs
• Automatic article links have been updated
• Canonical URLs use the new paths
• XML sitemaps use the new paths
• Redirects exist for important old URLs
• The structure works while signed out
• Desktop and mobile links have been tested

Your knowledge base article and category URL bases are now set up with a clear and consistent structure.