Definition: A canonical tag is an HTML element used to prevent duplicate content issues in search engine optimization (SEO) by specifying the preferred version of a web page. It informs search engines which URL should be considered the authoritative source when multiple URLs have similar or identical content.
Function: Canonical tags help consolidate link equity and ranking signals to the preferred URL, ensuring that search engines index and rank the correct version of a page. This aids in avoiding the negative impacts of duplicate content on search rankings and provides clarity to search engines on which page should be displayed in search results.
Implementation: To implement a canonical tag, add a link element with the attribute rel="canonical" to the <head> section of the HTML document. The href attribute should contain the URL of the canonical version of the page, guiding search engines to the preferred content source.
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