What is a canonical tag?
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Correct answer: A directive that tells Google the preferred version of the page.
Why this is the answer
A canonical tag (rel="canonical") is an HTML element that helps webmasters prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the "preferred" or "canonical" version of a web page. When multiple URLs exist for the same or very similar content (e.g., due to tracking parameters, different sorting options, or printer-friendly versions), the canonical tag tells search engines which version should be indexed and ranked. This consolidates ranking signals and avoids diluting SEO efforts. The incorrect option "A tag that tells Google the main keyword you want to rank for" describes a meta keyword tag, which is largely ignored by Google. The incorrect option "A hard rule that Google must follow, no matter what" is wrong because canonical tags are hints, not directives; Google may choose to ignore them if it deems another version more appropriate.
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