Hreflang Tag
An HTML attribute that tells search engines which language and regional version of a page to show users based on their location and language preferences. Essential for websites targeting multiple countries or languages.
Why It Matters
Hreflang prevents duplicate content issues across international sites and ensures users see the correct language version. Improper implementation causes 60% of international SEO issues, leading to wrong language versions ranking in wrong countries.
How It Works
Hreflang tags specify language (en, fr, es) and optionally region (en-us, en-gb, en-au). Search engines use these signals to serve the appropriate version to users. Tags must be reciprocal - if page A links to page B, page B must link back to page A.
Use Cases
- A global e-commerce site uses hreflang to show French version to users in France, Canadian French to users in Canada
- A SaaS company targets English-speaking markets with en-us, en-gb, en-au versions showing localized pricing
- A news site implements hreflang for Spanish content targeting es-es (Spain) vs es-mx (Mexico) with regional news
Best Practices
- Use ISO 639-1 language codes (en, fr, es) and ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes (us, gb, ca)
- Implement hreflang tags in XML sitemaps, HTTP headers, or HTML head - pick one method and use consistently
- Include self-referencing hreflang tag on each page pointing to itself
- Add x-default hreflang tag to specify default page for users in unlisted regions
- Ensure hreflang relationships are reciprocal between all language/region versions
- Validate implementation with Google Search Console's International Targeting report
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Hreflang Tags important for international SEO? +
How do Hreflang Tags work? +
What's the correct hreflang syntax? +
Related Terms
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