Canonical URL
01 Definition
Canonical URL meaning: The preferred version of a page when similar URLs exist.
A canonical URL is the address a site identifies as the main version of duplicate or near-duplicate content usually through a rel canonical link element.
Also called
canonical tagrel canonical
Why it matters
How Canonical URL fits the work
Canonicalization helps search engines consolidate signals and choose which URL to index.
In context
Filtered catalog URLs referenced the clean category page as their canonical URL.
Practical note
A canonical is a hint rather than a guaranteed instruction and should point to an indexable equivalent page.