What is canonical URL and rel canonical in SEO?
Canonical URL (or rel canonical) is an HTML tag <link rel="canonical" href="..."> in page code telling the search engine: 'this is the main version, don't confuse with duplicates'. Used when same content exists at different URLs (UTM tags, filters, www/no-www, http/https). Without canonical, search engines might pick the wrong version or demote both as duplicates. Should be on every page.
Canonical URL (or rel canonical) is an HTML tag telling search engines: 'this is the main version, don't confuse with duplicates'. Used when same content exists at different URLs. Without it, engines may pick wrong version or demote both as duplicates.
How it looks
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yoursite.com/page" />
When needed
- UTM tags and tracking.
- Faceted filters.
- HTTPS / HTTP versions.
- www / non-www.
- Print versions.
- AMP pages (canonical to HTML version).
Self-canonical
Canonical pointing to itself — normal practice, should be on every page.
Cross-domain canonical
Can point to a page on another domain — used when content is republished.
This question is also asked as:
- •what is canonical url
- •rel canonical explained
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