Google Confirms #Anchor URLs Are Fine in GSC

Google’s John Mueller has provided clarity on why URLs containing hashtags sometimes appear in Google Search Console reports. This has been a common concern among website owners who worry that these URLs may be incorrectly indexed or impacting search rankings. However, Mueller reassured users that this is normal behaviour and not something to be alarmed about.

He explained that when Google Search Console displays URLs with hashtags in performance reports, it does not mean Google is indexing the wrong URLs. Instead, these URLs are often generated when users navigate through a webpage, particularly when JavaScript-based websites use hashtags to update content dynamically without reloading the page.

Hashtags in URLs are primarily used for internal navigation, such as scrolling to a specific section of a page or loading different content without changing the main URL. Since Google generally ignores anything after the hashtag when indexing pages, the presence of these URLs in Search Console does not negatively impact a site’s SEO performance.

Mueller also noted that seeing these URLs in reports can be helpful, as they provide insights into how users interact with a site and which sections are being accessed. However, if website owners prefer to avoid them appearing in reports, they may need to adjust how their site structures internal links or how JavaScript frameworks handle URL changes.

Ultimately, Mueller emphasised that there is no need to take any action regarding these URLs, as they do not interfere with indexing or search rankings. Website owners can safely ignore them in Search Console reports, focusing instead on other key SEO factors that influence visibility in search results.

URLs With #Anchor Hashtags

John Mueller recently addressed a common concern regarding URLs with hashtags appearing in Google Search Console (GSC) reports. He shared insights on the topic in a Bluesky post, clarifying that these URLs do not indicate any issues with how Google indexes pages.

An example of such a URL format is:
https://example.com/example-url/#:~:text=

When website owners see URLs like this in GSC, they may assume that Google is indexing the wrong versions of their pages. However, Mueller reassured users that this is not the case. Google generally ignores everything after the # symbol when indexing a webpage, meaning these URLs do not affect rankings or visibility in search results.

The presence of hashtag URLs in reports is often due to how browsers and JavaScript-based websites structure internal navigation. Hashtags can be used to highlight specific sections of a page or manage content dynamically without changing the main URL.

Mueller’s explanation helps clear up any confusion, confirming that there is no need to take action if these URLs appear in GSC. Instead, website owners can focus on more critical SEO factors that impact their site’s performance in search results.

 

Some Reports Use Canonical URLs

John Mueller explained that some reports in Google Search Console (GSC) display the canonical URL, which means that Google reports a single version of a URL, even if multiple variations of the same URL exist in the data. This often applies to indexing reports and other search-related analyses.

In a post, Mueller addressed concerns about seeing #anchor URLs in GSC. He clarified that this is a known behaviour and not something to worry about. Some search features report only the canonical URL—the main URL Google uses for indexing—while others may not.

He stated:

“Every now and then, someone posts about finding ‘hashtags’ (URLs with #anchors) in Search Console. Here’s what’s up with that (and none of this is new). Most search features report on the canonical URL (the main URL used for indexing), a handful don’t. Sometimes search uses anchors—”

This means that while most reports in GSC focus on the main indexed URL, there are cases where Google may track anchor links separately. However, this does not impact how Google ranks or indexes a page.

For website owners, this insight helps dispel concerns about Google indexing incorrect URLs. The presence of hashtag URLs in reports is just a reflection of how certain search features work rather than an issue that needs fixing.

 

Some URLs Are Reported With #Anchors (Hashtags)

John Mueller explained that the Performance report in Google Search Console (GSC) sometimes displays URLs containing #anchors, also known as hashtag URLs. These links appear in Google’s search results and direct users to a specific section of a webpage rather than just the page itself.

An example of such a URL might look like this:

/#:~:text=Example%20of%20text%20in%20a%20url%20from%20google%20serps.

When a user clicks on this type of link, the browser automatically highlights a particular sentence or section of the page. This feature, known as text fragments, helps users find the most relevant part of the content more quickly.

Mueller clarified that while these anchor URLs may appear in the Performance report, they are not indexed in this format. Instead, Google continues to index the canonical version of the URL, meaning the primary version of the page used for ranking and indexing.

He stated:

“… anchors, as in links with #hashtags – to link to a specific part of a page. You see that when you click on a link in the search results and it highlights a sentence (called ‘text fragments’). Sometimes this is used to report in Search Console in your performance report.”

He further added that while some SEOs might prefer being able to analyse these anchor-based URLs separately, their presence in the Performance report is not a sign of a problem. It’s simply how Google tracks search activity, even though the indexed version of the page remains unchanged.

 

Performance Reports With #Anchor URLs

Displaying non-canonical #anchor URLs in the Performance report is actually quite useful. It provides insights into how these special deep link search results are driving traffic to specific sections of a page.

Without this reporting, the only way to track traffic from these links would be through keyword reporting. However, keyword reports do not differentiate between standard page visits and visits directed to a specific section via deep links.

By including #anchor URLs in the Performance report, Google gives website owners and SEOs a clearer picture of how users interact with search results. This helps them understand how deep links contribute to website traffic and engagement.