Canonical tag
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") is an HTML link in a page's head that tells search engines which URL is the preferred, “master” version among duplicate or near-duplicate pages.
What it means
A rel="canonical" link in the page head that points to the preferred URL among duplicates or near-duplicates.
Why it matters for indexing
A canonical pointing to a different URL tells Google to index that one instead — a top reason pages “won't index”.
How to check it
Inspect the URL in Search Console, or view source and look for the canonical link — it should point to itself.
How FastIndexing helps
Our pre-flight check flags canonical conflicts before you spend credits, so you fix the signal instead of resubmitting blindly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of a canonical URL?
The canonical URL is the version of a page you want Google to index and show when several URLs hold the same or similar content. The rel="canonical" tag names it.
What is an example of a canonical URL?
If a product is reachable at example.com/shoes?color=red and example.com/shoes, you'd set the canonical on both to https://example.com/shoes so Google indexes that one.
What is the difference between a canonical URL and a redirect?
A canonical is a hint that keeps both URLs accessible but tells Google which to index; a 301 redirect actually sends users and bots to another URL and removes the original. Use a redirect when a page truly moved, a canonical when duplicates must coexist.