Jump to HeaderJump to Main ContentJump to Footer
Digital Experience Studio
  • Experience Program
  • Experience Design
  • Website Technology
  • Social Media
  • Analytics
  • News and Events

< Experience Program

  • Website Project Process
  • Working with a Vendor
  • Glossary
  • Taxonomy Data Dictionary

< Experience Design

  • Website Strategy
  • Website Structure
  • Information Architecture and Navigation
  • User-Centered Design Conventions
  • Common UX Issues
  • Enterprise Design System
  • Content Planning
  • Creating Accessible Content
  • Taxonomy and Filters

< Website Technology

  • Web Standards
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Cascade CMS
  • Sitecore CMS
  • Content Hub Basics
  • Content Hub DAM
  • Content Hub Operations

SitecoreAI

Sitecore user login

< Social Media

  • Alt Text Bookmarklet
  • Meta Ad Pixel
  • Social Media and Web Integration
  • Sprinklr

Sprinklr

Sprinklr user login

< Analytics

  • Google Analytics (GA4)
  • Testing
  • Data Visualization

Google Analytics

Google Analytics user login

< News and Events

  • News and Updates
  • Events and Trainings

MSU Tools and Resources

  • A to Z Index
  • Find People
  • Email
  • Tech Support
  • Social Media Directory
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Digital Experience Studio

University Communications and Marketing

Digital Experience Studio

  • Experience Program
    • Website Project Process
    • Working with a Vendor
    • Glossary
    • Taxonomy Data Dictionary
  • |
  • Experience Design
    • Website Strategy
    • Website Structure
    • Information Architecture and Navigation
    • User-Centered Design Conventions
    • Common UX Issues
    • Enterprise Design System
    • Content Planning
    • Creating Accessible Content
    • Taxonomy and Filters
  • |
  • Website Technology
    • Web Standards
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Cascade CMS
    • Sitecore CMS
    • Content Hub Basics
    • Content Hub DAM
    • Content Hub Operations

    SitecoreAI

    Sitecore user login
  • |
  • Social Media
    • Alt Text Bookmarklet
    • Meta Ad Pixel
    • Social Media and Web Integration
    • Sprinklr

    Sprinklr

    Sprinklr user login
  • |
  • Analytics
    • Google Analytics (GA4)
    • Testing
    • Data Visualization

    Google Analytics

    Google Analytics user login
  • |
  • News and Events
    • News and Updates
    • Events and Trainings

University Communications and Marketing

Digital Experience Studio > Website Technology > Sitecore CMS > Sitecore User Guide > Building Pages >

Naming a Page

Naming a Page

There are several places where pages can be named in Sitecore. How the name fields are approached impacts how the name displays within the system and publicly to website visitors.

All pages must have a page name applied using either the page title field on a Hero Banner component or using a Page Title component. The page title fields correspond to H1 tags for webpages and are critical for search engine optimization and accessibility. Do not use both a Hero Banner and a Page Title component, as this would mean the page contains two H1 tags. It is fine to combine one or more subtitle components with either a Hero Banner or a Page Title component.

Initial Page Item Name and URL

Communications Resources

  • University Communications and Marketing
  • University Trademarks and Licensing
  • MSU Brand Studio
  • MSU Editorial Style Guide
  • MSU Photos

Contact us

517-355-7505

Address

Michigan State University 408 West Circle Drive East Lansing, MI 48824

Follow Us

  • Visit our Facebook page
  • Visit our page on X
  • Visit our Instagram page
  • Visit our LinkedIn page
  • Visit our YouTube page
  • Visit our TikTok page

If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.

Know MoreTransparency Reporting: Budget & Salary/Compensation
  • Contact Information|
  • Site Map|
  • Privacy Statement|
  • Site Accessibility|
  • Call MSU: (517) 355-1855|
  • Visit: msu.edu|
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination|

SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|

When initially creating a page item, use lowercase letters and hyphens, but no other special characters. This initial name impacts the page URL and appears in the Site Content Tree.

The page xmc-demo-site is highlighted in the sitemap content tree.
Figure 1: The initial page name is URL-friendly and appears in the Site Content Tree.

 

Changing the Item Name and URL

Changing the item name will also change the page’s URL. If the item name is changed, consider adding a redirect link to point the original URL to the new URL.

In Page Builder Editor Mode:

  1. Locate the page in the Site tree (left-side panel).
  2. Click the “…” icon to the right of the page name and click Settings.
  3. Change the item name field. Use lowercase letters and hyphens only.
  4. Click the X in the top right corner to close the Settings panel. The Sitemap Content Tree now shows the new Display name. 

System Name Displayed in Content Tree

To change how the page name appears in the Site Content Tree within Sitecore:

In Page Builder Editor Mode:

  1. Locate the page in the Site tree (left-side panel).
  2. Click the “…” icon to the right of the page name and click Settings.
The ellipses menu icon next to the page name is outlined in red.
Figure 2: To change the Display name, click the menu icon to access the Rename menu option.

  1. Change the Display name field. You can use spaces in this field. It is for internal use only.

    Item name and Display name both show xmc-demo-site
    Figure 3: When initially added, the Display name matches the Item name. The Item name controls the page URL.
Item name shows xmc-demo-site and Display name reads
Figure 4: The Display name can be changed but the Item name should be left as is. The Item name controls the page URL.

  1. Click the X in the top right corner to close the Settings panel. The Site Content Tree now shows the new Display name. 

    The site name now displays as
    Figure 5: The Site Content Tree display name may be easier for content authors to read but it will not impact the website visitor experience. 

     

    Note: Changing this field will not update the public display of the page name, such as what a site visitor would see in navigation. 
    The breadcrumb navigation shows the page name as xmc-demo-site
    Figure 6: The navigation and breadcrumb components still display the Item name.

Page Name Visible to Visitors

To change the visible page name that is referenced in the Main Navigation, Page Title and Contextual Navigation components and the Sitemap:

Method 1: Edit Using Page Builder Editor Mode

In Page Builder Editor Mode:

  1. Locate the page in the Sitemap content tree. Click to select.
  2. Click the “…” icon to the right of the page name and click Page content.
  3. Change the Title field.
  4. (Optional) Change the Browser Title field.
  5. Click the X in the top right corner to close the Page content panel.
  6. Add a Hero Banner or Page Title component to the page. It should display the text in the Title field.
Method 2: Edit Using Page Builder Content Mode

In Page Builder Content Mode:

  1. Locate the page in the Sitemap content tree. Click to select.
  2. Change the Title field.
  3. (Optional) Change the Browser Title field.
  4. Return to Editor mode.
  5. Add a Hero Banner or Page Title component to the page. It should display the text in the Title field.
Method 3: Edit Using Page Title Component
  1. Add a Page Title component to the Main Body content area.
Screenshot showing the breadcrumb and page title on a page
Figure 7: A new Page Title component will show the initial page title. The initial page title is also visible in the Breadcrumb, above.
  1. Update the text in the field to your desired page name.
Screenshot showing the breadcrumb and page title on a page
Figure 8: The title can be updated by changing the text in the Page Title component.
  1. Refresh the page. The breadcrumb should now update to match the page name, confirming the change was accepted.
Screenshot showing the breadcrumb and page title on a page
Figure 9: Refreshing the page canvas forces the Breadcrumb component to update and match the new title in the Page Title component.
  1. Delete the Page Title component if it is not needed.
Note: This will not impact the Browser Title, which displays on the search page. To change the Browser Title, use Method 1.
Method 4: Edit Using Content Editor

In Content Editor:

  1. Locate the page in the Site Content Tree. Click to select.
  2. Change the Title field and the Browser Title fields to the desired page name.
Screenshot showing the page title field in Content Editor
Figure 10: The Title field displays the initial page name.
Screenshot showing the page title field in Content Editor
Figure 11: The Title field can be updated for a public facing name.

 

Note: The Browser Title field controls the site name on the search results page. Be sure to include the page name in this field on the Home page.
  1. Click Save.
  2. View in Page Builder. Refresh the canvas, if necessary.
  3. The Breadcrumb or Page Title component will update to show the change.
Screenshot showing the breadcrumb on a page
Figure 12: The Breadcrumb component now displays the new page title. 
Note: This is the most reliable method. This method also allows content authors to set a Page Title and Browser Title that differs from the title field displayed in a Hero Banner. 

Documentation updated: Sept. 21, 2026

Is there an issue with this documentation? Report it here.