Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR
Google’s Gary Illyes clarified that hreflang URLs are not indexed in the traditional sense but are stored as alternate URLs to the canonical page. This means they can appear in search results if the query warrants it, but they are not independently indexed.
Key Developments
- Hreflang URLs are treated as alternate URLs, not independently indexed.
- These URLs can appear in search results if the user’s query justifies it.
- The canonical URL is what gets indexed, with hreflang URLs mapped to it.
- Gary Illyes explained this in response to a LinkedIn query about canonicalization and hreflang behavior.
Optimixed Analysis
Google’s approach to hreflang URLs suggests that while they are not indexed independently, they still play a role in search results when relevant to a user’s query. This indicates that hreflang implementation remains important for international SEO, as it helps Google serve the correct language version without needing each version to be indexed separately. However, the reliance on canonical URLs means that ensuring the correct canonicalization is crucial for effective hreflang usage.
