Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google’s Updated JavaScript SEO Canonical URL Guidelines
Google emphasizes that the best practice for setting canonical URLs is using HTML. If JavaScript must be used, the canonical URL set via JavaScript should match the original HTML canonical URL. Avoid changing the canonical URL to a different value through JavaScript. Always test your implementation with tools like Google Search Console to ensure proper indexing.
Optimixed’s Overview: Ensuring Proper Canonical URL Implementation with JavaScript for SEO Success
Understanding Google’s Guidance on Canonical URLs and JavaScript
Google recently updated its JavaScript SEO best practices, focusing on how to handle canonical URLs when JavaScript is involved. Canonical URLs are crucial for signaling the preferred version of a webpage to search engines, helping to avoid duplicate content issues.
Key Points from the Update
- Prefer HTML for Canonical Tags: The canonical URL should ideally be set within the HTML using the
rel="canonical"link tag. - JavaScript Use Cases: If it is necessary to use JavaScript to set the canonical URL, ensure that the URL specified matches the canonical URL in the original HTML exactly.
- Avoid Changing Canonical URLs via JavaScript: Do not change the canonical URL to a different value than what is defined in the HTML; it can confuse Google’s indexing process.
- When Canonical Is Not in HTML: If the canonical URL cannot be set in HTML, omit it from the HTML and use JavaScript to set it instead.
- Testing is Crucial: Use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to verify that Google correctly processes the canonical URL, especially when JavaScript is involved.
Why This Matters for SEO
Canonicalization is performed both before and after page rendering, which means clarity on the canonical URL is essential for accurate indexing. Following these guidelines ensures that Google understands the preferred page URL, avoiding duplicate content penalties and improving SEO performance.
