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Evidence reference
Google has described a declared canonical preference as a hint rather than an absolute command or rule.
SupportedSUPPORTEDclm_dc2637a1-459a-43bc-bd01-60b0ab705867
This is a stable reference page for one canonical claim in the Editory evidence base. It exists for traceability and citations; the curated documentation is the readable entry point.
Cited by documentation
Sources
- What is URL Canonicalization
Google Search Central Documentation · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-18
“indicating a canonical preference is a hint, not a rule” — Factors that play a role in canonicalization
- When To Use Rel Canonical Or Noindex ...Or Both
Search Engine Journal · retrieved 2026-08-18
“A rel=canonical tag is a hint, not a directive” — Discussion of rel=canonical vs noindex
- All About Canonicals: A 2026 Guide to rel=canonical
DYNO Mapper · retrieved 2026-08-18
“Canonicals are a hint to Google, not a directive.” — line 90
Related claims
Release: seo-geo-product-v0.3 · Phase Two freeze: P2-CORE300-FINAL-v1.0 · Generated: 2026-08-23T08:01:40Z