What is a Canonical Tag?
A canonical tag, or <link rel="canonical">, is an HTML snippet that specifies the preferred version of a web page when multiple versions with similar content exist. It helps search engines understand which URL should be indexed and considered the main page.
Importance:
- Solve Duplicate Content Issues: Ensures that search engines index the correct page, consolidating link signals and improving SEO.
- Control Over Indexing: Prevents search engines from indexing undesired duplicates.
Best Practices:
- Use Self-Referential Tags: Reference the URL of the given page to avoid confusion.
- Use Absolute URLs: Avoid misinterpretations by using complete URLs.
- Avoid robots.txt for Canonicalization: Ensure pages with canonical tags aren’t blocked.
- Regular Audits: Monitor for duplicate content and proper canonicalization.
Example:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page/">Canonical tags are vital for maintaining SEO integrity by preventing duplicate content issues and consolidating ranking signals.
