What Is a Canonical Tag
A canonical tag tells search engines which URL should be treated as the preferred version when several pages are identical or very similar.
Why canonical tags matter
They reduce ambiguity across duplicate or parameter-based URLs. Instead of splitting signals across several versions, you help search engines understand which page should represent the content.
When to use one
- Product filters create multiple URLs for the same listing page.
- UTM parameters expose duplicate versions of a landing page.
- Content is syndicated or duplicated across a controlled set of URLs.
When not to rely on it alone
A canonical is a strong hint, not a hard directive. If the page should not exist or should never be indexed, use the appropriate publishing or indexation controls instead.