Definition: A canonical tag is an HTML element used to prevent duplicate content issues in search engine optimization (SEO) by specifying the preferred version of a web page. It informs search engines which URL should be considered the authoritative source when multiple URLs have similar or identical content.
Function: Canonical tags help consolidate link equity and ranking signals to the preferred URL, ensuring that search engines index and rank the correct version of a page. This aids in avoiding the negative impacts of duplicate content on search rankings and provides clarity to search engines on which page should be displayed in search results.
Implementation: To implement a canonical tag, add a link element with the attribute rel="canonical" to the <head> section of the HTML document. The href attribute should contain the URL of the canonical version of the page, guiding search engines to the preferred content source.
ChatGPT and Gemini don't have access to SEO data. We do! We let AI do all the heavy-lifting with real SEO data - from keyword research and SERP analysis to citations and solid article drafts - so you can focus on publishing high-quality content that your audience, Google, and AI search engines love
Powered by data from industry-leading SEO platforms
Learn More