Canonical Tag Checker
Free toolPaste the full HTML of a page and check its <link rel="canonical"> tag before you deploy: detect whether it is missing, whether there is more than one, or whether it uses a relative URL instead of an absolute one. Everything is processed in your browser: nothing is uploaded to RA Software Apps servers.
Results
Canonical tags found
How to use it
- Open the page source and copy the full HTML.
- Paste it into the tool.
- Check the result: whether the canonical tag exists, whether there is more than one and whether its URL is absolute.
What it works out and how
It looks for link tags with rel canonical in the pasted HTML and warns about the three most common mistakes: none present, several that contradict each other, or a relative URL instead of an absolute one. It is a markup review before you deploy; it does not check that the canonical URL exists or responds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the canonical tag for?
It tells search engines which version is preferred when the same content is reachable through several URLs, for example with tracking or sorting parameters.
Should a page point to itself?
Yes, it is good practice. A self-referencing canonical keeps parameter variants from being treated as separate pages.
Does Google always obey the canonical?
No. It is a hint, not a directive. If internal links, the sitemap or redirects say otherwise, Google may pick a different URL.