A canonical tag is an HTML element used to prevent duplicate content issues by telling search engines which version of a webpage should be treated as the primary one. When multiple versions of the same content exist with various URLs—for example, pages with different parameters or tracking codes—the canonical tag points search engines to the preferred URL for indexing.
This helps consolidate ranking signals, ensuring that SEO value is not split across duplicate pages and sites. To implement a canonical tag, you add a <link> element with the attribute rel=”canonical” inside the <head> section of the duplicate pages’ HTML. By doing so, you improve site organization, avoid potential penalties for duplicate content, and make sure the correct page is displayed in search results.
