SearchLaneCanonical tag checker
Enter a page to see which address it tells Google to index — and whether that canonical tag helps or quietly hides the page.
| Canonical tag | example.com/guide |
| Points to itself | Yes |
| Absolute URL | Yes |
| Robots | index, follow |
Example result, not real data
What it shows
- Canonical tagThe <link rel="canonical"> address and the HTTP Link header, if the server sends one.
- Self or otherWhether the canonical points to the page itself or sends Google to a different address.
- ConflictsRelative or http:// addresses, several tags, a www mismatch and noindex on the same page.
How to use the Canonical Checker
- Paste a page addressInclude the exact URL, with parameters if you want to see how a tracking link is handled.
- Check where it pointsThe checker follows redirects and reads the canonical of the final page.
- Fix what is flaggedEach problem comes with the reason it matters and what to change.
Why it matters
A wrong canonical is one of the quietest ways to lose a page from Google. A template that copies the home page address into every canonical, or an http:// version left after a move to https, tells Google to index something else — and nothing on the page looks broken.
Canonicals also decide which of your duplicate URLs collects the links and clicks. One clear address per page keeps those signals together.
Questions
What does a canonical tag do?
It tells search engines which address is the main version of a page, so copies with tracking parameters, filters or print versions count as one page.
Should every page have a self-referencing canonical?
Yes, it is a good default: it protects the page from duplicate addresses you never created, such as ?utm_source links.
Does Google always follow the canonical?
No, it is a hint. Google may pick another address if the signals disagree, for example when redirects, links and the sitemap point elsewhere.
Canonical or redirect?
Redirect when the old address should disappear. Use a canonical when both addresses must keep working, such as filtered product lists or tracking links.
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