# Do we need the number at the end of the URL?

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/do-we-need-the-number-at-the-end-of-the-url/25172>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [2015年二月12日 20:33 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/do-we-need-the-number-at-the-end-of-the-url/25172 "2015-02-12T20:33:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![godmoneytrust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/godmoneytrust/32/35381_2.png) [@godmoneytrust](https://meta.discourse.org/u/godmoneytrust)\
**Post date:** [2015年二月12日 20:33 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/do-we-need-the-number-at-the-end-of-the-url/25172/1 "2015-02-12T20:33:32Z")

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I noticed that if I use the following URL:

[http://conversations.christiansimplicity.com/t/free-spending-your-time-and-money-on-what-matters-most](http://conversations.christiansimplicity.com/t/free-spending-your-time-and-money-on-what-matters-most)

It automatically redirects to

[http://conversations.christiansimplicity.com/t/free-spending-your-time-and-money-on-what-matters-most/71](http://conversations.christiansimplicity.com/t/free-spending-your-time-and-money-on-what-matters-most/71)

When sharing the URL or giving it to others, which is the preferred URL to use, the one with or without the /71 ID at the end?

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**Author:** ![keith\_td](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/keith_td/32/115489_2.png) [@keith\_td](https://meta.discourse.org/u/keith_td)\
**Post date:** [2015年二月12日 20:35 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/do-we-need-the-number-at-the-end-of-the-url/25172/2 "2015-02-12T20:35:33Z")

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You should include the number so that links don’t break if the topic title changes. It’s also disambiguation for duplicate topic titles if your config allows those.

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/codinghorror/32/110067_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [2015年二月12日 22:56 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/do-we-need-the-number-at-the-end-of-the-url/25172/4 "2015-02-12T22:56:30Z")

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For the record duplicate topic titles are disallowed out of the box. But I agree with @keith_td you need the number, it’s too risky otherwise.