Introduction
The Toolibex hreflang checker helps website owners and search engine optimizers review language and regional annotations for websites in different languages or for multiple countries. Blogs, online stores, and business sites in more than one language or targeting multiple regions can all benefit from an hreflang review.
About the Toolibex Hreflang Checker
The Toolibex Hreflang Checker helps users examine hreflang annotations on webpages, which provide information about language and region to search engines.
For instance, a business with English webpages for the United States, the United Kingdom, and a Spanish page for Spain may need to use hreflang tags so that search engines know which language a particular page is intended for and can show the appropriate version to searchers.
An hreflang checker can be helpful for search engine optimizers, website developers, international business owners, translators, and site maintainers. Depending on the tool, it may help analyze language designations, regional codes, alternate URLs, and other considerations.
These annotations can be included in the HTML of a page, in a website's HTTP headers, or in a sitemap file, depending on the preferences and maintenance practices of the website owner. While the hreflang checker makes the process easier, it is always a good idea to double-check the recommendations against the website's actual code or documentation.
Why Hreflang Tags Matter
If a website uses multiple languages or has variations of pages for different countries, there may be several similar pages on the same topic but in different languages or with different buying options and contact information.
In these cases, it is necessary to give search engines hints about which version is intended for which audience.
Hreflang tags are used to identify alternate versions of a webpage. These tags help search engines recognize that two similar pages are not duplicates, and ensure that the correct pages are shown to users searching in different languages.
They are especially useful when separate pages are used for the same language but in different countries.
For instance, content in American English may have slightly different spellings and variations than British English, and may include different purchasing options or contact methods. The language code would be the same, but the country code would differ for these two pages.
Correctly implemented hreflang tags provide a number of benefits, including:
- Indicating language: Tags identify the language of a particular variation of a webpage, so that the correct version is shown to users searching in that language
- Identifying regions: Tags can also specify a country or region code, which helps search engines determine which language is in use and which version to show to users in a particular area
- Avoiding alternate confusion: Alternate pages can be identified, allowing search engines to recognize that these are variations of the same page in different languages
- Assisting with international SEO: Tags help organize content so that it is easier to optimize for multiple languages or regions
- Improving maintenance: Hreflang tags are much less error prone than misspelled international URLs or broken links, which means fewer technical issues to fix
Hreflang tags are not a quick fix for improving search engine rankings, and they do not guarantee that searchers will see any particular version of a page.
However, they help search engines understand and organize content, and provide language information about alternate pages.
Using an Hreflang Checker To Review Tags
An hreflang checker identifies common issues with language and regional tags for alternate pages.
In most cases, a tool such as the Toolibex Hreflang Checker can be used to review a single page.
1. Decide on the page to check
Ahreflang tags are used on pages with alternate versions in different languages or for different regions.
Therefore, use the hreflang checker on a page that has at least one alternate version.
It may also be helpful to create a list of alternate pages and their purposes, before beginning the examination.
2. Use the tool to examine tags
Depending on the options available with the selected checker, it may be possible to enter a URL or examine the page directly within the tool.
Look for any alternate URLs identified by the tool.
3. Verify language and region codes
Hreflang tags can be used to identify a language, or a language and region together.
For the most part, language designations use standard abbreviations such as 'en' for English, with country codes as an optional addition.
'En' is the designation for English, while 'en-US' indicates a page in American English and 'en-GB' indicates a page in British English.
4. Check reciprocal links
Any page that uses hreflang tags to identify an alternate version must include a reciprocal tag indicating that the alternate page is also available in another language.
Therefore, for every page that uses hreflang tags, make sure that the alternate page also has the tag indicating the first page is an alternate version.
5. Correct any issues and check again
If any incorrect hreflang tags, alternate page URLs, or missing tags are identified, correct them and repeat the process until all issues have been resolved.
Depending on the checker used and the website in question, it may be necessary to examine the HTML, HTTP headers, or XML sitemap file for hreflang tags, in addition to using the hreflang checker tool.
Understanding Issues With Hreflang Tags
An hreflang checker identifies a variety of issues with language tags for alternate pages.
Some of the most common problems, along with explanations, are listed below.
Valid Tags
A valid tag has a valid language and region code and points to a functioning alternate URL.
For instance, the following hreflang tag is a valid one for an alternate page in British English:
Invalid Language or Region Codes
If a language or region code is misspelled, search engines will not recognize it.
Make sure that all language and region codes are spelled correctly and are valid designations, according to standard language and region code lists.
Typical misspellings might include 'hreflanf' or 'hraflang' instead of 'hreflang'.
Incorrect or Missing Return Links
Hreflang tags work both ways, meaning that if a page indicates that it has an alternate version in another language, the alternate page must indicate that the first page is also an alternate version.
Ahreflang checker tool can identify missing return links.
Incorrect, Missing, or Non-Functioning Alternate URLs
If the alternate URL for a page does not exist or is misspelled, the alternate page will no longer be available through the first page.
Correct or remove any alternate URLs that do not work or point to an entirely different page.
Missing Self-Descriptive Tags
When a page is an alternate version of another page, it should also include a self-descriptive tag indicating that it has an alternate version.
Missing 'x-Default' Tags
The 'x-default' tag allows searchers whose language is not specified or does not match any of the designated language tags to still find the homepage or another appropriate landing page.
'X-Default' tags are optional, but they can be useful for international business websites, language choice pages, and country selection pages.
Examples of Hreflang Tags
Ahreflang tags can be used in a number of ways, depending on the language and regional variations of a website.
The examples below describe the uses of hreflang tags for three different websites.
English Pages for the United States and the United Kingdom
A business with separate webpages for customers in the United States and the United Kingdom can use hreflang tags to identify alternate versions of pages, as shown below.
Both pages should also include the alternate tag for the other page.
English and Spanish Pages for the Same Service
A business that offers the same service information in English and Spanish can use hreflang tags to identify alternate language pages.
In this example, the 'en' designates a page in English and 'es' designates a page in Spanish:
International Homepage with Default Page
Some international business websites offer a default landing page for users who do not select a different page.
The hreflang tag for this default page should use the 'x-default' designation, as indicated below:
This example would apply to language choice pages or country choice pages, as well.
Hreflang Tag Checklist
An hreflang checker can help to identify some of the common issues with hreflang tags.
However, ahreflang tag checklist can also be used to ensure that all of the relevant tags have been examined.
Some of the most important items to include on this checklist are as follows:
- Use the correct language and region codes: Always use valid language and region codes; consult a reference list, if necessary.
- Use absolute URLs: Include the full URL for each alternate page within the hreflang tags.
- Use return tags: If an alternate version of a page exists, both pages should use hreflang tags to indicate the alternate version.
- Use self-descriptive tags: If a page is an alternate version of another page, it should also indicate that it has an alternate version.
- Ensure that destination URLs are not broken: Verify that the alternate page URLs are valid and direct to the correct pages.
- Only indicate alternate pages: If a page does not have any alternate versions, it should not indicate that it does.
- Only use one type of implementation: Choose one implementation type (HTML, HTTP, or XML) and stick with it, throughout the entire website.
- Always indicate the 'x-default' tag, if applicable: If a default page exists, it should be identified with an 'x-default' hreflang tag.
- Double-check updated pages:Hreflang tags should be reviewed, whenever there are substantial changes to a webpage.
- Always verify the entire set of pages: An hreflang checker should always be used on the entire set of pages, rather than just a single page, since it is possible that a page will indicate that it has an alternate version, when it does not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hreflang Tags
1. What is hreflang?
Hreflang is an HTML tag or equivalent indicator, used to identify alternate versions of a page in different languages or for different regions.
2. What is a hreflang checker?
A hreflang checker is a search engine optimization tool, used to identify issues with hreflang tags.
3. Is hreflang a direct Google ranking factor?
Hreflang tags help search engines understand the language and regional variations of pages, but they do not directly affect search engine rankings or ensure that Google will display a particular version of a page.
4. What is the difference between 'en', 'en-US', and 'en-GB'.
'En' indicates that a page is in English.
'En-US' indicates that a page is in American English and 'en-GB' indicates that a page is in British English.
5.Are return links required for hreflang tags?
Yes; both pages should always indicate that they have an alternate version.
6. Can hreflang be added to a sitemap?
Yes, hreflang tags can be added to a sitemap, but the tags should always be consistent, no matter which method is used.
7. What does 'x-default' mean?
'X-Default' is used to indicate a default tag, for pages that do not match any of the other tags.
8. What happens if hreflang tags are incorrect?
Incorrect tags may be entirely ignored or will fail to indicate the correct language of a page. Issues with language, alternate URLs, return tags, and implementation should always be corrected.
9. Should all websites use hreflang tags?
Hreflang tags are only necessary for websites that have multiple language or regional variations of the same page. If a website only has one version of a particular page, it is not necessary to use hreflang tags.
Conclusion
A hreflang checker helps website owners and search engine optimizers identify and fix issues with language and regional tags, which is critical for websites that operate in more than one language or for more than one region.
By using the Toolibex hreflang checker, business owners and website maintainers can help search engines understand the website structure and make it easier for customers to find the correct version of a page.
Always use the correct language and regional abbreviations, check that all alternate pages are correctly indicated and that the tags are properly installed and consistently used, throughout the website.
Although hreflang tags cannot guarantee that a page will be seen on search engines, they enable search engines to identify the language and regional variations of web pages.