Hreflang
Definition
Hreflang is an HTML attribute (rel='alternate' hreflang='x') that tells search engines which language and geographic version of a page should be served to users in different locations. It prevents duplicate content issues between regional variants (e.g., English for US vs. English for UK) and ensures users see the most relevant version. Hreflang tags can be implemented in three ways: in the <head> of each page, in HTTP headers, or in the XML sitemap. Each page must reference all its language variants, including itself (self-referencing). Common mistakes include: asymmetric tags (page A references B but B doesn't reference A), incorrect language/country codes, and missing x-default for fallback. Hreflang only affects organic search — it does not redirect users.
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