Google Search Engine Recommendation: Don’t Specify the Snippet URL as Canonical

This recommendation has been added to the document’s Best Practices section. The added item states:

“Don’t list the snippet URL as canonical, as Google generally doesn’t support snippet URLs.”

While this may seem obvious to most SEOs, Google likely included this clarification as a precaution.

When implementing canonicalization, follow these recommendations:

1. Avoid using robots.txt for canonicalization
   Robots.txt is not intended for this purpose.
2. Don’t use the URL removal tool for canonicalization
   Using this tool hides all versions of the URL from search, which is not a proper canonicalization approach.
3. Ensure consistency in canonical URLs
   Avoid specifying different canonical URLs for the same page across different methods (e.g., in the sitemap vs. rel=”canonical”).
4. Do not set snippet URLs as canonical
   Google generally doesn’t support snippet URLs for canonicalization purposes.
5. Avoid using “noindex” to prevent canonical page selection
   Using “noindex” to block access to a canonical page will remove it entirely from search. Instead, use the rel=”canonical” attribute as the preferred solution.
6. Hreflang and canonical pages
   If you use hreflang elements, always specify a canonical page in the same language. If a canonical page for that language doesn’t exist, select the best possible alternative.
7. Use canonical URLs for internal links
   When placing links on your site, link to the canonical version of the URL rather than a duplicate version. This helps Google better understand your preferred URL structure.

By adhering to these best practices, you can improve how Google processes and displays your site’s content in search results.

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