Best SEO practice for empty Parent Menu item with sub-menu, Separator or External Url ?

[Chacapamac]

I just want to have opinions of the experts on what type of menu type is preferred and why for SEO when a top parent menu item is only a container with no url destination by itself for a series of sub-links (sub-menu).

The normal 2 ways are:

1. The Separator Menu Type
2. The External Link Type with 2 possibilities;
— with the “javascript:void(0);” link
— with the “#” link

[waarnemer]

I'd say nr. 1.. since there is no link, there is no need for sef/seo settings for this "parent" also.

Else go for option 3.
have an explanatory page.. showing reason why these topics are child of parent. With all meta and SEO/SEF to go with that.

[jameslarson]

In comparison to the parent page, child pages are supposed to be both important and contextual. As the parent lacks a URL of its own, search engines may be uncertain as to the value between both the parent and its child pages.

[digibaapagency]

Parent Pages Supposed to be have URl. Please focus on URls and all then you will be okay.

[Leftfield]

Parent Pages Supposed to be have URl. Please focus on URls and all then you will be okay.

Parent pages don't need to be real page. It can be simple linked with # in the navigation. Crawler will not make an issue at all.