Canonical URL Checker

Check the Canonical URL of a page (HTTP Headers & HTML Link Tag).

How to Use the Canonical URL Checker

Check any webpage’s canonical URL in three simple steps.

1

Enter the URL

Type or paste the webpage URL you want to check into the input box. The tool accepts any valid web address.

2

Automatic Analysis

The tool connects to the webpage and examines HTTP headers and HTML code to find the canonical URL tag.

3

View Results

See if a canonical URL exists, where it was found, and whether it points to itself or another page.

Canonical URL Checker Tool

Canonical URL Checker

Check if a webpage has a canonical URL set correctly. This tool examines both HTTP headers and HTML tags to find the canonical URL and tells you if it matches the page you’re checking. Perfect for SEO specialists, web developers, and website owners who want to avoid duplicate content issues.

What is a Canonical URL?

A canonical URL is a special tag that tells search engines which version of a webpage is the “main” or “official” one. Think of it like telling everyone which address is your real home when you have multiple addresses.

When you have similar pages on your website, the canonical URL helps search engines understand which page should appear in search results. This prevents confusion and helps your website perform better in search rankings.

Why Use the Canonical URL Checker?

The Canonical URL Checker helps you quickly verify whether your webpages have canonical tags set up correctly. This is important for maintaining good SEO health and avoiding duplicate content penalties.

Key Benefits:

  • Instant results: Check any webpage in seconds.
  • Dual detection: Finds canonical URLs in both HTTP headers and HTML tags.
  • Redirect tracking: Shows if the URL redirects to another page.
  • Clear status reports: Easy-to-understand results showing match, mismatch, or missing canonical tags.
  • SEO-friendly: Helps identify and fix duplicate content issues.
  • No technical knowledge needed: Simple interface that anyone can use.

What Does This Tool Check?

This tool provides a complete analysis of canonical URL implementation, including:

  • HTTP header canonical links
  • HTML canonical tags in the page code
  • Whether the canonical URL points to itself (self-referencing)
  • Whether the canonical URL points to a different page
  • HTTP status codes and redirects
  • Final destination URL after redirects

These details help you understand how search engines will interpret your page and whether your canonical tags are working as intended.

Understanding the Results

Self-Referencing Canonical (Green Check)

This is the ideal situation. The page points to itself as the canonical version, telling search engines this is the official page to index.

Canonical Points Elsewhere (Orange Info)

The page has a canonical tag that points to a different URL. This means the page is telling search engines to treat another page as the main version instead.

Missing Canonical Tag (Red X)

No canonical URL was found. This might be okay for unique pages, but could cause duplicate content issues if similar pages exist.

When Should You Use This Tool?

Use the Canonical URL Checker when you need to:

  • Verify canonical tags are set up correctly on your website
  • Troubleshoot SEO issues related to duplicate content
  • Check competitor websites to understand their SEO structure
  • Audit your website before launching or after major updates
  • Confirm that redirected pages maintain proper canonical tags

Check Canonical URLs Quickly

Enter any webpage URL and get instant canonical tag analysis. Fast, accurate, and easy to understand — helping you maintain better SEO health for your website.

Common Questions

What is a canonical URL and why is it important?

A canonical URL is a tag that tells search engines which version of a page is the main one. It's important because websites often have similar or duplicate pages (like product pages with different filters or URLs with tracking parameters). The canonical tag prevents search engines from getting confused and helps your website rank better by consolidating ranking signals to one preferred URL instead of splitting them across multiple similar pages.

How does the Canonical URL Checker work?

The tool examines a webpage by checking two places where canonical tags can be located: HTTP headers and HTML code. When you enter a URL, it connects to that webpage, reads the technical information, and identifies if a canonical tag exists. It then compares the canonical URL with the page you're checking to determine if it's self-referencing (pointing to itself), pointing elsewhere, or missing entirely.

What does "self-referencing canonical" mean?

A self-referencing canonical means the page is pointing to itself as the official version. For example, if you check "example.com/page1" and the canonical URL is also "example.com/page1", that's self-referencing. This is generally the correct setup for unique pages because it tells search engines "this is the main version of this content." It's like saying "I am the original."

What should I do if my canonical URL points to a different page?

If your canonical URL points to a different page, it means the current page is telling search engines to treat another page as the main version. This is intentional in some cases (like when you have duplicate content and want to consolidate it). However, if this wasn't your intention, you should update your canonical tag to point to the correct page or make it self-referencing if this page should be indexed independently.

Is it bad if my page doesn't have a canonical URL?

Not necessarily. If your page is completely unique with no similar versions on your website, a missing canonical tag might not cause problems. However, it's generally considered best practice to include a self-referencing canonical tag on all pages. This prevents potential duplicate content issues and gives search engines clear direction, especially if someone else links to your page with tracking parameters or if your CMS creates multiple URLs for the same content.