Canonicalization
The process of indicating the preferred URL among duplicate or similar pages.
Definition
Canonicalization resolves duplicate or near-duplicate content by specifying a preferred URL via the rel="canonical" link element or other signals. This helps consolidate ranking signals, avoid index bloat, and guide search engines to the single authoritative version of content. It is especially important for sites with parameterized URLs, pagination, or small content variations that otherwise fragment equity and dilute relevance.