Canonical URL
Example: A bistro running both `/menu/` and `/menu/index.html` without a canonical link splits its ranking signal across two URLs — Google picks the lower-ranked one half the time.
rel=canonical, the "official" address
A tag in a page's HTML that tells Google "this is the real address for this page, ignore any duplicates". Matters when the same content lives at multiple URLs (with/without www, with/without tracking parameters, printable versions).
Why it matters
Without canonicals, Google can't tell which version of a page to rank and ends up splitting your SEO signal across three copies. A one-line tag concentrates all your search credit on the version you actually want people to land on.
Frequently asked
What is Canonical URL?
Canonical URL is a tag in a page's HTML that tells Google "this is the real address for this page, ignore any duplicates". Matters when the same content lives at multiple URLs (with/without www, with/without tracking parameters, printable versions).
Why does Canonical URL matter for a restaurant?
Without canonicals, Google can't tell which version of a page to rank and ends up splitting your SEO signal across three copies. A one-line tag concentrates all your search credit on the version you actually want people to land on.
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