Canonical tags guide
A canonical tag tells search engines which URL you consider the main version of a page. It's useful when the same or similar content is available on multiple URLs (e.g. parameters, pagination, or syndication). This guide explains when to use canonicals, how to implement them, and common mistakes that can hurt indexing or rankings.
When to use canonicals
Use a canonical when you have duplicate or near-duplicate content on multiple URLs that you can't or don't want to redirect. Examples include product URLs with different sort or filter parameters, paginated series, or print/syndicated versions. The canonical should point to the single URL you want to rank. Don't use canonicals to consolidate completely different pages.
- Use for parameter-based duplicates
- Use for pagination
- Point to the one URL you want to rank