Does cryptic string in URL affects SEO?
patio11: This is a good question.  The answer is subtle: Google isn't going to penalize you, but users will.All things being equal, long URLs get clicked on in the SERPs less than short URLs.  (Test if you don't believe me, which should go without saying.)  Additionally, that bit of human-unreadable garbage suggests to many users that your content will be, well, garbage, where the competinghttp://example.com/birds/all-about-bluejayswill suggest to them "Well, heck, if I want to know about bluejays these are the guys."  You only get a little space on the SERP to attract a click.  The URL can be used as a resource there.  Use it properly!Additionally, since SEO is a game where winners win, I'd expecthttp://example.com/birds/all-about-bluejaysto get more links than your ugly monstrosity of a URL, which is going to cause it to rank faster.  This is a self-reinforcing cycle, obviously.