Guide
Canonical basics for clean indexing
Learn how self-referencing canonical tags help control duplicate URLs and consolidate signals.
Canonical tags are not decorative. They are strong hints about your preferred version.
Use one preferred URL per page
Canonical tags work best when every page clearly states its own preferred version. Mixing parameters, alternate hosts, or inconsistent trailing slash rules weakens that signal.
Avoid accidental cross-domain references
Cross-domain canonicals can be valid in special cases, but they should never come from copied templates or staging leftovers. Always confirm that the target URL is truly the page you want indexed.