Short definition
A tag that tells search engines which version of a page is the main one.
Beginner In plain English
Sometimes the same page can be reached at several addresses. The canonical tag points to the one you want to show up in search.
Professional How pros use it
rel="canonical" is a strong hint, not a directive. Use self-referencing canonicals on indexable pages and point parameter or duplicate URLs to the preferred version. Canonicals pointing to non-indexable or redirected URLs send mixed signals.
Examples
- /shop/mug?color=blue with a canonical to /shop/mug/.
- A syndicated article pointing back to the original.
More detail
An HTML tag that tells search engines which version of a page is the main one when similar or duplicate versions exist.
In client work, you will often need to explain this term in plain language, so practice describing it in one sentence.
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