What is Canonical URL?
Also called Preferred URL
Definition
A canonical URL is the representative URL selected for a group of duplicate or substantially similar pages. Publishers can signal a preferred version, but a search engine can choose a different canonical.
The operation of Canonical URL is explained.
Google treats redirects and rel="canonical" annotations as strong canonicalization signals, while sitemap inclusion is weaker. Signals work best when they agree.
A canonical annotation expresses a preference rather than an unconditional indexing command.
The relevance of Canonical URL is explained.
A SaaS guide might be reachable with several tracking parameters. Consistent canonical signals help consolidate those variants around the intended public URL instead of creating conflicting representations of the same content.
The evaluation of Canonical URL is explained.
Canonical annotations, internal links, redirects, and sitemap entries point consistently to the preferred representative. Search tools can help diagnose selected canonicals.
Genuinely different pages are not duplicates merely because they concern related products.
Frequently asked questions about Canonical URL
Is rel="canonical" a redirect?
A canonical annotation does not send the visitor to another URL; an HTTP redirect does.
Must Google accept the declared canonical?
Google can select a different canonical when its signals support another version.
Is canonicalization the same as blocking crawling?
Canonicalization identifies a preferred representative and does not itself prohibit crawling.