Hashbangs (#!) in URLs were initially used to differentiate AJAX content for search engines. However, they can present significant challenges for SEO today. One major issue is that URLs with hashbangs may be less recognizable to modern search engines, potentially leading to indexing problems since many search engines prefer “clean” URLs. Hashbangs can also create difficulties with analytics and link equity as they fragment URLs, making it harder to consolidate link signals. Furthermore, hashbangs can disrupt page sharing and tracking because they are often overlooked by social media platforms and analytics tools. Consequently, using hashbangs is generally discouraged, and implementing more SEO-friendly practices, such as server-side rendering and pushState for AJAX applications, is recommended to ensure better SEO performance and a smoother user experience.