Canonical Tag Generator
When the same content is reachable at more than one URL, a canonical tag tells Google which one to index - consolidating ranking signals and preventing duplicate-content dilution. Enter your preferred URL to generate the tag.
Use the full, preferred URL (with https and no tracking parameters).
<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/blog/my-post" />Place this inside the <head> of the page it points to.
How to use the canonical tag tool
- 1Enter the preferred (canonical) URL.
- 2Copy the tag into the <head> of every duplicate or variant.
- 3Use absolute https URLs, not relative paths.
- 4Self-reference the canonical on the master page too.
Frequently asked questions
What does a canonical tag do?
It tells search engines which URL is the master version of a page, so duplicate or parameter URLs don't compete and ranking signals consolidate onto one address.
When do I need a canonical tag?
Whenever the same or very similar content is reachable at multiple URLs - www vs non-www, trailing slashes, tracking parameters, printer versions, or products in multiple categories.
Should a page canonicalize to itself?
Yes. A self-referencing canonical on the master URL is best practice and removes ambiguity, especially when parameters can be appended to the page.
Is a canonical tag the same as a 301 redirect?
No. A 301 sends users and bots to another URL; a canonical keeps the page accessible but tells search engines which URL to index. Use 301s to move content, canonicals to dedupe it.
Can canonical tags hurt SEO?
Only if misused - pointing to the wrong URL, a broken page, or a noindexed page can drop the intended page from the index. Always canonicalize to a live, indexable URL.
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