How to Remove 'category' from WordPress Category URLs

Why Remove 'category' from Category URLs

When optimizing a WordPress site, details like the category path in category links matter. By default, WordPress category URLs include the /category/ directory, e.g., https://example.com/category/theme.

This URL structure can be improved. URL optimization is an important SEO factor. Removing category makes links cleaner and more user-friendly, which benefits SEO.

How to Remove 'category' from Category URLs

Below is WordPress code to remove category from category links. You don't need to fully understand how it works; just add it correctly to your theme's functions.php file.

// Remove category base from URLs
add_action('load-themes.php', 'no_category_base_refresh_rules');
add_action('created_category', 'no_category_base_refresh_rules');
add_action('edited_category', 'no_category_base_refresh_rules');
add_action('delete_category', 'no_category_base_refresh_rules');
function no_category_base_refresh_rules() {
    global $wp_rewrite;
    $wp_rewrite->flush_rules();
}

// Remove category base prefix
add_action('init', 'no_category_base_permastruct');
function no_category_base_permastruct() {
    global $wp_rewrite, $wp_version;
    if (version_compare($wp_version, '3.4', '<')) {
        $wp_rewrite->extra_permastructs['category'][0] = '{5cc1b29162d549a8071384de182cc9fc6e6a0fd85e7907f22fd9e18cff4269c3}category{5cc1b29162d549a8071384de182cc9fc6e6a0fd85e7907f22fd9e18cff4269c3}';
    } else {
        $wp_rewrite->extra_permastructs['category']['struct'] = '{5cc1b29162d549a8071384de182cc9fc6e6a0fd85e7907f22fd9e18cff4269c3}category{5cc1b29162d549a8071384de182cc9fc6e6a0fd85e7907f22fd9e18cff4269c3}';
    }
}

// Add custom category rewrite rules
add_filter('category_rewrite_rules', 'no_category_base_rewrite_rules');
function no_category_base_rewrite_rules($category_rewrite) {
    $category_rewrite = array();
    $categories = get_categories(array('hide_empty' => false));
    foreach ($categories as $category) {
        $category_nicename = $category->slug;
        if ($category->parent == $category->cat_ID) {
            $category->parent = 0;
        } elseif ($category->parent != 0) {
            $category_nicename = get_category_parents($category->parent, false, '/', true) . $category_nicename;
        }
        $category_rewrite['(' . $category_nicename . ')/(?:feed/)?(feed|rdf|rss|rss2|atom)/?$'] = 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]&feed=$matches[2]';
        $category_rewrite['(' . $category_nicename . ')/page/?([0-9]{1,})/?$'] = 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]&paged=$matches[2]';
        $category_rewrite['(' . $category_nicename . ')/?$'] = 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]';
    }
    global $wp_rewrite;
    $old_category_base = get_option('category_base') ? get_option('category_base') : 'category';
    $old_category_base = trim($old_category_base, '/');
    $category_rewrite[$old_category_base . '/(.*)$'] = 'index.php?category_redirect=$matches[1]';
    return $category_rewrite;
}

// Add 'category_redirect' query var
add_filter('query_vars', 'no_category_base_query_vars');
function no_category_base_query_vars($public_query_vars) {
    $public_query_vars[] = 'category_redirect';
    return $public_query_vars;
}

// Redirect if 'category_redirect' is set
add_filter('request', 'no_category_base_request');
function no_category_base_request($query_vars) {
    if (isset($query_vars['category_redirect'])) {
        $catlink = trailingslashit(get_option('home')) . user_trailingslashit($query_vars['category_redirect'], 'category');
        status_header(301);
        header("Location: $catlink");
        exit();
    }
    return $query_vars;
}

Usage and Notes

1. Code Placement: Add the full code to the end of your active theme's functions.php file.
2. Refresh Rules: After adding, visit Settings → Permalinks in your WordPress admin and click Save Changes to flush rewrite rules.
3. Result: Category URLs change from https://example.com/category/theme to https://example.com/theme.
4. Compatibility: Works with most WordPress versions. Always back up your site and database before making core changes.
5. Plugin Alternative: If manual coding is complex, consider plugins like "Remove Category URL" or "WP No Category Base" for easier setup.