What Is Canonical Tag? What It Means, How To Use It, & Why It Matters?
What Is Canonical Tag? What It Means, How To Use It, & Why It Matters?
What Is Canonical Tag? What It Means, How To Use It, & Why It Matters?
What Is Canonical Tag? What It Means, How To Use It, & Why It Matters?
What Is Canonical Tag? What It Means, How To Use It, & Why It Matters?
Canonical Tag
Canonical Tag
Canonical Tag
Canonical Tag
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") tells search engines which URL is the preferred version of a page, helping avoid duplicate content and ensuring proper indexing.
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") tells search engines which URL is the preferred version of a page, helping avoid duplicate content and ensuring proper indexing.
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") tells search engines which URL is the preferred version of a page, helping avoid duplicate content and ensuring proper indexing.
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") tells search engines which URL is the preferred version of a page, helping avoid duplicate content and ensuring proper indexing.
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Aashi Katariya
Aashi Katariya
Aashi Katariya
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Sep 18, 2025
Sep 18, 2025
Sep 18, 2025
What Is a Canonical Tag?
What Is a Canonical Tag?
What Is a Canonical Tag?
When you have more than one page with the same or similar content, a canonical tag is a simple HTML element that tells search engines which page to index. The rel="canonical" attribute is usually used to put it in the <head> section of your webpage. When you add a canonical tag, you're telling search engines which URL should be the "preferred" one for indexing and ranking.
In your page's code, it looks like this:
When you have more than one page with the same or similar content, a canonical tag is a simple HTML element that tells search engines which page to index. The rel="canonical" attribute is usually used to put it in the <head> section of your webpage. When you add a canonical tag, you're telling search engines which URL should be the "preferred" one for indexing and ranking.
In your page's code, it looks like this:
When you have more than one page with the same or similar content, a canonical tag is a simple HTML element that tells search engines which page to index. The rel="canonical" attribute is usually used to put it in the <head> section of your webpage. When you add a canonical tag, you're telling search engines which URL should be the "preferred" one for indexing and ranking.
In your page's code, it looks like this:
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.example.com/preferred-page" />
This code tells Google and other search engines that you think the linked URL is the main version. This helps keep things clear when there are multiple pages that are similar or the same.
This code tells Google and other search engines that you think the linked URL is the main version. This helps keep things clear when there are multiple pages that are similar or the same.
This code tells Google and other search engines that you think the linked URL is the main version. This helps keep things clear when there are multiple pages that are similar or the same.
Why Canonical Tags Are Important?
Why Canonical Tags Are Important?
Why Canonical Tags Are Important?
Here are some reasons why canonical tags are important for your SEO:
Here are some reasons why canonical tags are important for your SEO:
Here are some reasons why canonical tags are important for your SEO:
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Avoid Problems with Duplicate Content: Canonical tags help search engines avoid getting confused by duplicate content, which can hurt rankings.
Avoid Problems with Duplicate Content: Canonical tags help search engines avoid getting confused by duplicate content, which can hurt rankings.
Avoid Problems with Duplicate Content: Canonical tags help search engines avoid getting confused by duplicate content, which can hurt rankings.
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Consolidate links Equity: Canonical tags combine the ranking signals of duplicate pages, which makes the main page stronger in search results.
Consolidate links Equity: Canonical tags combine the ranking signals of duplicate pages, which makes the main page stronger in search results.
Consolidate links Equity: Canonical tags combine the ranking signals of duplicate pages, which makes the main page stronger in search results.
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Avoid Keyword Cannibalization: By using a canonical tag to set a preferred page, you stop your own pages from fighting for the same keywords.
Avoid Keyword Cannibalization: By using a canonical tag to set a preferred page, you stop your own pages from fighting for the same keywords.
Avoid Keyword Cannibalization: By using a canonical tag to set a preferred page, you stop your own pages from fighting for the same keywords.
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Save Search Engine Resources: Canonical tags make sure that search engines use their crawling and indexing resources on your most important pages. This helps your site rank better overall.
Save Search Engine Resources: Canonical tags make sure that search engines use their crawling and indexing resources on your most important pages. This helps your site rank better overall.
Save Search Engine Resources: Canonical tags make sure that search engines use their crawling and indexing resources on your most important pages. This helps your site rank better overall.
When Should You Use Canonical Tags?
When Should You Use Canonical Tags?
When Should You Use Canonical Tags?
Canonical tags are very important in a number of situations:
Canonical tags are very important in a number of situations:
Canonical tags are very important in a number of situations:
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E-commerce Sites: If you sell the same product in different colors, sizes, or styles, each one may have its own URL. Canonical tags stop these differences from causing Technical SEO problems and tell search engines which product page is the main one.
E-commerce Sites: If you sell the same product in different colors, sizes, or styles, each one may have its own URL. Canonical tags stop these differences from causing Technical SEO problems and tell search engines which product page is the main one.
E-commerce Sites: If you sell the same product in different colors, sizes, or styles, each one may have its own URL. Canonical tags stop these differences from causing Technical SEO problems and tell search engines which product page is the main one.
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Republished or Syndicated Content: Canonical tags make sure that search engines give credit to the original version of your content when it is shared or republished on more than one URL. This keeps them from punishing it for being too similar.
Republished or Syndicated Content: Canonical tags make sure that search engines give credit to the original version of your content when it is shared or republished on more than one URL. This keeps them from punishing it for being too similar.
Republished or Syndicated Content: Canonical tags make sure that search engines give credit to the original version of your content when it is shared or republished on more than one URL. This keeps them from punishing it for being too similar.
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Tracking Parameters: Adding things like UTM codes or session IDs to URLs can make pages that are the same. Canonical tags tell search engines to focus on the main page and ignore these other pages.
Tracking Parameters: Adding things like UTM codes or session IDs to URLs can make pages that are the same. Canonical tags tell search engines to focus on the main page and ignore these other pages.
Tracking Parameters: Adding things like UTM codes or session IDs to URLs can make pages that are the same. Canonical tags tell search engines to focus on the main page and ignore these other pages.
In short, canonical tags are very important for stopping problems with duplicate content on different URLs on your website.
In short, canonical tags are very important for stopping problems with duplicate content on different URLs on your website.
In short, canonical tags are very important for stopping problems with duplicate content on different URLs on your website.
How to Implement a Canonical Tag?
How to Implement a Canonical Tag?
How to Implement a Canonical Tag?
Common canonical tag mistakes to avoid
Common canonical tag mistakes to avoid
Common canonical tag mistakes to avoid
If you're not careful, these are some common mistakes that can hurt your SEO:
If you're not careful, these are some common mistakes that can hurt your SEO:
If you're not careful, these are some common mistakes that can hurt your SEO:
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Avoid Pointing All Canonicals to Homepage: Don't make every page point back to your homepage. Instead, make your homepage the canonical page for all of them. There should be a canonical tag on each page that points to the main URL for that content.
Avoid Pointing All Canonicals to Homepage: Don't make every page point back to your homepage. Instead, make your homepage the canonical page for all of them. There should be a canonical tag on each page that points to the main URL for that content.
Avoid Pointing All Canonicals to Homepage: Don't make every page point back to your homepage. Instead, make your homepage the canonical page for all of them. There should be a canonical tag on each page that points to the main URL for that content.
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Using More Than One Canonical Tag: Each page should only have one canonical tag. Search engines can get confused if there are more than one.
Using More Than One Canonical Tag: Each page should only have one canonical tag. Search engines can get confused if there are more than one.
Using More Than One Canonical Tag: Each page should only have one canonical tag. Search engines can get confused if there are more than one.
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Putting the canonical tag in the wrong place: Make sure the canonical tag is in the right part of the HTML <head> and not anywhere else on the page.
Putting the canonical tag in the wrong place: Make sure the canonical tag is in the right part of the HTML <head> and not anywhere else on the page.
Putting the canonical tag in the wrong place: Make sure the canonical tag is in the right part of the HTML <head> and not anywhere else on the page.
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Different mobile and desktop versions: To avoid differences, make sure the canonical tag is the same on both the mobile and desktop versions of your pages.
Different mobile and desktop versions: To avoid differences, make sure the canonical tag is the same on both the mobile and desktop versions of your pages.
Different mobile and desktop versions: To avoid differences, make sure the canonical tag is the same on both the mobile and desktop versions of your pages.
Best Practices for Canonical Tags
Best Practices for Canonical Tags
Best Practices for Canonical Tags
To make the most of your canonical tags:
To make the most of your canonical tags:
To make the most of your canonical tags:
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You should always use one canonical tag for each page and make sure you use the full, correct URL.
You should always use one canonical tag for each page and make sure you use the full, correct URL.
You should always use one canonical tag for each page and make sure you use the full, correct URL.
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For consistency, make sure that your canonical URLs are the same as the URLs in your XML sitemap.
For consistency, make sure that your canonical URLs are the same as the URLs in your XML sitemap.
For consistency, make sure that your canonical URLs are the same as the URLs in your XML sitemap.
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When you can, use HTTPS URLs instead of HTTP URLs because they are safer and Google likes them better.
When you can, use HTTPS URLs instead of HTTP URLs because they are safer and Google likes them better.
When you can, use HTTPS URLs instead of HTTP URLs because they are safer and Google likes them better.
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Check for canonical tag problems on your site often with tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.
Check for canonical tag problems on your site often with tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.
Check for canonical tag problems on your site often with tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Canonical tags may look simple, but they are very important for SEO. You can avoid having duplicate content, combine your link equity, and boost your site's rankings by using them correctly. Canonical tags are like "clarity experts" in your SEO toolkit. They help search engines find the right page and make you more visible in search results page. Contact us today to fix canonical tags to enhance indexing, boost rankings, and grow your business.
Canonical tags may look simple, but they are very important for SEO. You can avoid having duplicate content, combine your link equity, and boost your site's rankings by using them correctly. Canonical tags are like "clarity experts" in your SEO toolkit. They help search engines find the right page and make you more visible in search results page. Contact us today to fix canonical tags to enhance indexing, boost rankings, and grow your business.
Canonical tags may look simple, but they are very important for SEO. You can avoid having duplicate content, combine your link equity, and boost your site's rankings by using them correctly. Canonical tags are like "clarity experts" in your SEO toolkit. They help search engines find the right page and make you more visible in search results page. Contact us today to fix canonical tags to enhance indexing, boost rankings, and grow your business.
Want to get started on fixing duplicate content and improving your site’s SEO?
Want to get started on fixing duplicate content and improving your site’s SEO?
Want to get started on fixing duplicate content and improving your site’s SEO?
Our expert CRO and SEO team can help implement canonical tags, guide search engines to your preferred URLs, and maintain a clean, search-friendly website structure.
Our expert CRO and SEO team can help implement canonical tags, guide search engines to your preferred URLs, and maintain a clean, search-friendly website structure.
Our expert CRO and SEO team can help implement canonical tags, guide search engines to your preferred URLs, and maintain a clean, search-friendly website structure.
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