The canonical URL is used to indicate the preferred version of a webpage when multiple URLs contain similar or identical content. It helps search engines understand which version of the page should be indexed and displayed in search results.
"Canonical points to 4XX" refers to an issue where the canonical URL specified in the <link rel="canonical"> tag of a webpage points to a URL that results in a 4XX (client error) HTTP status code, indicating that the requested resource is not found or unavailable. When the canonical URL points to a URL that returns a 4XX error, it can confuse search engines and potentially harm the page's search engine rankings and indexing.
How to fix?
To fix this issue, follow these steps:
Identify the Correct Canonical URL: Determine the correct canonical URL for the webpage. This should be the URL that you want search engines to index and display in search results.
Check for 4XX Errors: Verify that the canonical URL does not result in a 4XX error. Use web development tools or online HTTP status code checkers to confirm that the URL returns a valid HTTP status code (e.g., 200 OK).
Update the Canonical Tag: Once you have identified the correct canonical URL and ensured that it does not result in a 4XX error, update the
<link rel="canonical">tag in the HTML of the webpage to point to the correct canonical URL.Test and Monitor: After updating the canonical tag, test the webpage to ensure that it is functioning correctly and that the canonical URL is pointing to the desired location. Monitor the webpage's performance in search results and use tools like Google Search Console to check for any related issues or warnings.
By ensuring that the canonical URL specified in the <link rel="canonical"> tag points to a valid URL without 4XX errors, you can help improve the page's search engine optimization (SEO) and prevent potential indexing issues.