What is a Canonical URL?

Introduction

Canonical URL is a term used in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that refers to the preferred version of a web page. When multiple pages have similar or duplicate content, search engines can get confused about which page to index and display in search results. A canonical URL helps search engines understand which page should be considered the original or main version of a set of similar pages.

Why use a Canonical URL?

There are several reasons why you might use a canonical URL, including:

• To resolve duplicate content issues
• To consolidate link equity from multiple pages with similar content
• To specify the preferred version of a page for search engines
• To avoid having multiple pages compete with each other in search results

How to Implement Canonical URLs

Canonical URLs can be implemented in the HTML header of a web page using a rel=”canonical” tag. The tag should be placed in the head section of the HTML and should specify the URL of the preferred or main version of the page.
For example, if you have two pages with similar content:

  http://www.example.com/page-a/
  http://www.example.com/page-b/

To specify that the first page is the preferred version, you would add the following code to the head section of the second page:

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  <link rel="canonical" href="http://www.example.com/page-a/">

Common Canonical URL Mistakes

Some common mistakes to avoid when using canonical URLs include:

• Specifying an incorrect URL
• Using a noindex tag on the preferred page
• Not using a canonical URL at all for similar pages
• Using relative URLs instead of absolute URLs

Conclusion

In conclusion, a canonical URL is an important tool in SEO that helps search engines understand the preferred version of a set of similar or duplicate pages. By using canonical URLs correctly, you can avoid duplicate content issues, consolidate link equity, and specify the preferred version of a page for search engines. It’s important to understand how to implement and use canonical URLs correctly to get the most out of your SEO efforts.