- Article
- Intermediate
- 1 minute read
- Reviewed August 4, 2026
Pagination divides a large collection across several URLs.
WordPress uses pagination for post indexes, taxonomy archives, search results and custom queries.
Crawlable Page Links
Provide standard links to next, previous and useful numbered pages.
Infinite scroll should have crawlable paginated URLs underneath it. A crawler should not need to simulate scrolling to discover later items.
Unique URLs and Canonicals
Each page needs a stable URL such as /blog/page/2/.
Paginated pages normally contain different items, so each page should usually use a self-referencing canonical.
Titles and Headings
Templates can indicate the page number without becoming repetitive.
The main archive description can appear on page one while later pages retain concise context.
Empty Pages
A requested page number beyond the available range should return a not-found response instead of an empty 200 page.
Infinite Scroll and Load More
Use progressive enhancement, maintain history correctly and preserve keyboard and back-button behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should page two canonicalize to page one?
Usually no. It contains a different set of items.
Is infinite scroll bad for SEO?
Not when backed by crawlable paginated URLs and accessible links.
Continue Learning
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