# slug

/ˈsɫəɡ/ (US) · /slˈʌɡ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slug
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a small, soft animal like a snail but without a shell. It moves very slowly and leaves a sticky trail on the ground. In computing, a slug is the part of a web address that identifies a specific page in a way that is easy for people to read.

For teachers: a shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc, typically having a slow-moving, elongated body. In a technical sense, it also refers to a unique string of characters used in a URL to identify a specific page. In web development and content management, a slug is the user-friendly, URL-encoded portion of a web address that typically matches the page title.

## Examples

- A slug ate the leaves in my garden last night.
- After the heavy rain, several slugs appeared on the damp patio stones near the vegetable patch.
- While the common garden slug is often viewed as a pest by horticulturists, it plays a vital role in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter into nutrient-rich soil.

## Usage notes

- Refers to the animal in general contexts; in web development, it refers to the human-readable part of a URL.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.