Parent Page WordPress: What is it & How to Use it Correctly

In WordPress, a Parent Page refers to a hierarchical relationship between pages. This means you can assign a Parent Page to another page, making the second page a “child” of the first. This structure is useful for organizing content and creating a logical site navigation, especially on websites with many pages.

Here’s a detailed explanation of what a Parent Page is and how to use it effectively.

What is a Parent Page in WordPress?

A Parent Page is a top-level page, under which other pages (called Child Pages) are nested. This creates a hierarchical structure, which is helpful for organizing related content.

For example:

• If you have an “About Us” section on your website, the “Team” or “History” pages could be Child Pages of “About Us.”
• The structure could look like this:
  • About Us (Parent Page)
    • Team (Child Page)
    • History (Child Page)

This structure is beneficial for websites that have related content that should be grouped under a main section or category.

When to Use a Parent Page

Using Parent Pages and Child Pages makes sense when:

• You have multiple pages that are related to a larger topic.
• You want to create a more organized, intuitive navigation system.
• You want a hierarchical URL structure for SEO or readability purposes.

How to Set a Parent Page in WordPress

Creating a Parent Page in WordPress is simple and can be done directly from the WordPress editor. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a New Page or Edit an Existing Page

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages > Add New (or edit an existing page).
2. Enter the Title and Content for the page.

Step 2: Set the Parent Page

1. In the right-hand menu, look for the Page Attributes section (this may be under the Document tab in the block editor).
2. Under Parent Page, select the parent page from the dropdown list. If you want this page to be a top-level page with no parent, select (no parent).

Step 3: Publish the Page

1. Once you’ve set the Parent Page, click Publish or Update to save the page.

Benefits of Using Parent Pages in WordPress

1. Improved Site Navigation

Using Parent and Child Pages helps organize content into logical sections. This hierarchy makes it easier for visitors to navigate the site.

For example:

• A Services page could be the Parent Page, and subpages like Web Design, SEO, and Digital Marketing could be Child Pages.
• This creates a clear navigation flow and makes it easier for users to find related content.

2. Better URL Structure

Parent and Child Pages also affect the URL structure of your website. When you assign a Parent Page, the Child Page’s URL reflects this hierarchy.

For example:

• Parent Page: www.yoursite.com/services/
• Child Page: www.yoursite.com/services/web-design/

This hierarchical URL is more descriptive and SEO-friendly.

3. SEO Benefits

Search engines value well-structured websites. By using Parent and Child Pages, you can create a logical flow of content that search engines can easily crawl and index. This improves your site’s SEO by providing better organization and relevance for related content.

4. Easy Content Management

For websites with a lot of pages, managing content becomes easier with a hierarchy. You can group related pages together, making it simple to update or reorganize sections of your site.

Customizing the Appearance of Parent and Child Pages

Some WordPress themes automatically display Parent Pages with their Child Pages in the navigation menu or sidebar. However, you can manually customize how these pages appear:

1. Menus

You can manually add Parent and Child Pages to your navigation menu:

1. Go to Appearance > Menus.
2. Select the Parent Page from the Pages section and add it to the menu.
3. Add the Child Pages below the Parent Page, then drag them slightly to the right to nest them as sub-items under the Parent Page.
4. Save your menu, and your navigation will reflect this hierarchy.

2. Page Templates

Some themes provide different templates for Parent Pages and Child Pages. You can use these templates to differentiate the look of top-level and sub-level pages.

1. In the Page Attributes section of your page editor, you’ll see the Template option.
2. Choose a template from the dropdown list if your theme supports custom page layouts for Parent or Child Pages.

Tips for Using Parent Pages Effectively

1. Don’t Overdo It: While the hierarchy can improve organization, avoid creating too many levels of Parent and Child Pages. A deep hierarchy can become confusing for both users and search engines. Stick to a simple structure—two to three levels deep at most.
2. Keep URLs Clean: When creating Child Pages, ensure the URLs are easy to read and not overly complicated. For example, avoid lengthy URLs like www.yoursite.com/about-us/our-team/team-members/contact—keep it concise.
3. Logical Grouping: Use Parent Pages only when there is a logical connection between the content of the Parent Page and its Child Pages. This helps users find information more intuitively.

Conclusion

A Parent Page in WordPress allows you to organize your site’s pages into a clear hierarchy. By using Parent and Child Pages, you can improve site navigation, create SEO-friendly URLs, and make managing your website easier. Properly using this feature ensures that your site is well-organized, intuitive for users, and optimized for search engines. Whether you run a small blog or a large business site, using Parent Pages correctly can make a significant difference in your site’s usability and structure.