canonical-tag

SEO Technical: Canonicalization

Determine the preferred URL for each page identity, consolidate duplicate variants, and verify that redirects, canonical annotations, internal links, sitemaps, and localization signals agree.

Scope

Treat these as one duplicate-page canonicalization problem when they expose the same or substantially similar primary content:

• HTTP and HTTPS;
• www and non-www hosts, including combined protocol/host variants;
• trailing-slash and non-trailing-slash paths;
• repeated path slashes such as /docs//guide;
• directory defaults such as /docs/ and /docs/index.html;
• historical extensions such as /guide.html and /guide;
• case variants such as /Guide and /guide;
• UTM and other tracking parameters that do not change primary content.

Do not assume that similar-looking URLs are duplicates. Case, parameters, extensions, and slash behavior can identify different resources. Compare response behavior, primary content, and project intent before consolidating.