What is a canonical URL and why is it important for SEO?
A canonical URL tells search engines which version of a page is the 'master' copy when multiple URLs contain similar or duplicate content. It prevents duplicate content penalties, consolidates link equity, and improves crawl efficiency. Proper canonical implementation is crucial for maintaining strong search rankings.
How do hreflang tags improve international SEO?
Hreflang tags signal to search engines which language or regional version of a page to serve to users based on their location and language preferences. They prevent duplicate content issues across international sites and ensure the right content reaches the right audience, improving user experience and search visibility.
When should I use canonical tags vs. hreflang tags?
Use canonical tags to resolve duplicate content issues within the same language/region (like HTTP vs HTTPS, www vs non-www). Use hreflang tags for different language or regional versions of the same content. They often work together - each language version should have its own canonical URL plus hreflang annotations.
Can I use both canonical and hreflang tags on the same page?
Yes, and you often should! Each page should have a canonical tag pointing to its preferred URL, plus hreflang tags pointing to all language/regional variations. This creates a clear signal hierarchy for search engines and prevents international duplicate content issues.
How do I implement canonical and hreflang tags correctly?
Add canonical tags in the <head> section using <link rel='canonical' href='URL'>. Add hreflang tags using <link rel='alternate' hreflang='language-code' href='URL'>. Ensure URLs are absolute, properly formatted, and that hreflang tags are reciprocal across all language versions.