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Canonical tag
Canonical tags help search engines determine which URL is the original or main version of a page when duplicate or similar content exists on a site. They prevent sites from being penalized for thin content issues or duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred URL to index.
Canonical tags are added to the header of non-canonical pages to point inbound links and crawlers to the tagged canonical page. This avoids duplicate content problems that could impact rankings.
Common uses of canonical tags include paginated archive pages, duplicate product pages with differing parameters, or mobile/desktop versions of the same page. They are important for e-commerce sites managing redundant product pages or category pages. Canonical tags ensure only one URL gets credit for rankings and links rather than having them diluted across duplicates.
Tools help audit sites for duplicate and near-duplicate content issues where canonical tags could be applied. They should point to the original page rather than any redirects. URLs must also be properly redirected to enforce the canonicalization. Regular monitoring ensures new pages are tagged appropriately.
Proper use of canonical tags ensures search engines know which page to index primarily for duplicate or similar types of pages. This avoids potential duplicate content or thin content penalties.