# 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. ## How to use it 1. Enter the preferred (canonical) URL. 2. Copy the tag into the of every duplicate or variant. 3. Use absolute https URLs, not relative paths. 4. Self-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. Use the interactive tool: https://www.tryspook.com/tools/canonical-tag-generator