A canonical URL is the preferred version of a webpage that you want search engines like Google to index when you have duplicate or similar content on multiple pages.
✅ Example:
You might have these 3 URLs showing the same content:
perlCopyEdithttps://example.com/page
https://www.example.com/page
https://example.com/page?ref=facebook
Without telling Google which version is the main one, your SEO value can get split between them. That’s where a canonical tag helps.
📌 What Does a Canonical Tag Look Like?
It’s a line of HTML in your <head> section like this:
htmlCopyEdit<link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/page" />
It tells Google:
➡️ “This is the original page you should index and give credit to.”
🔍 Why You Need a Canonical URL:
- ✅ Prevents duplicate content penalties
- ✅ Combines SEO signals to a single version of the page
- ✅ Improves crawl efficiency for search engines
- ✅ Helps with eCommerce sites where products may appear on multiple URLs
🧠 When Should You Use It?
Use a canonical tag when:
- You have duplicate or near-duplicate content
- A product is accessible from multiple categories
- You use UTM tags or tracking parameters
- You publish syndicated content elsewhere
🚫 When You Don’t Need It:
- If every page is unique in content
- You don’t have any duplicate URLs or versions
✅ In Summary:
Yes — if your site has similar pages or parameters in URLs, you should use a canonical URL. It helps search engines know which version to prioritize, ensuring your content gets the credit and visibility it deserves.