ShipcheckCanonical tag checker
Paste a public URL. We read rel=canonical from the server HTML and flag www, https, path, and og:url mismatches.
What we check
- Whether a rel=canonical link exists
- https vs http and www vs non-www against the final URL
- Path and query differences
- Whether og:url matches the canonical
Questions
What does a canonical tag do?
It tells search engines which URL is the main version of a page when several URLs show the same or similar content, so rankings are not split across duplicates.
Should every page’s canonical point to itself?
Usually yes for unique pages. Point elsewhere only when you intentionally consolidate (for example tracking-parameter URLs or print views) onto a primary URL.
Why does www vs non-www matter?
Search engines treat them as different hosts. Pick one, redirect the other, and make every canonical agree.
Is this the same as the meta tag checker?
The meta tag checker includes a quick canonical pass among many SEO tags. This tool focuses only on canonical and og:url mismatches with clearer host and path detail.
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