The Answer To This Interview Question:
A canonical tag helps search engines understand the primary version of a page when multiple pages contain similar or identical content. This is important for avoiding duplicate content penalties and ensuring the correct page ranks. I’ve used it to consolidate authority and signal to Google which page should be indexed.
What The Interviewer Really Wants To Hear:
The interviewer wants to hear how familiar you are with preventing duplicate content issues and how well you can implement canonical tags to guide Google in indexing the correct content.
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Tips To Answer This Interview Question Successfully
Explain how canonical tags consolidate page authority.
Canonical tags are especially useful when you have similar content across multiple URLs or when parameters generate duplicate pages. By setting a canonical URL, you ensure the right page gets the credit for rankings and link equity.
Mention real-world use cases.
I’ve used canonical tags in eCommerce sites with product variations. For instance, multiple product filter pages needed to point back to the primary product page to consolidate SEO efforts.
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