Canonicalisation Myths and Edge Cases separates fact from folklore. Know how Google chooses a preferred URL and when your hints can be ignored.
Which is the strongest canonicalization signal?
redirects
sitemaps
on-page title text
meta keywords
Where must the rel=canonical link element appear for HTML pages?
in CSS files
in the head
in robots.txt
in the body
Is using the URL removal tool a valid way to canonicalize duplicates?
only for sitemaps
yes, it consolidates signals
no, it hides all versions
only with hreflang
For paginated series without a view-all page, each page should ______.
omit canonicals entirely
use meta refresh canonicals
canonicalize to page 1
use a self-referencing canonical
What’s true about Google choosing a canonical if you don’t specify one?
all versions are removed
Google may select a version on its own
hreflang is applied instead
indexing stops entirely in practice
Which method can set a canonical for PDFs or non-HTML files?
a CSS @import
a robots sitemap rule
an HTTP Link header
a JSON-LD script only
If canonical and redirect disagree, what often happens?
Google ignores both in practice as needed
sitemaps always override typically
the body tag decides for most sites
signals may conflict; redirects usually win
A common cause of GSC ‘Alternate page with proper canonical’ is ______.
expected de-duplication of variants
manual penalties always
robots.txt typos only for most sites
DNS failures in practice
For syndicated content across domains, which approach is recommended?
omit attribution entirely as needed
302 both ways in practice typically
use cross-domain rel=canonical when appropriate
block both sites for most sites generally
Should paginated pages point canonicals to a ‘view-all’ page by default?
only for mobile pages
no, only if a true view-all exists
only when using AJAX for most sites
yes, always in practice
Starter
You can spot duplicates. Learn which signals are strongest and how pagination should self-canonicalize.
Solid
Solid on signals and pitfalls. Audit headers, redirects, and CMS defaults across templates.
Expert!
You handle edge cases well. Monitor GSC statuses and keep canonicals consistent with redirects.
When preparing for Canonicalisation Myths and Edge Cases interview questions, it’s important to separate fact from fiction about how search engines handle canonical tags. Many assume a canonical tag guarantees which URL gets indexed, but search engines treat it as a hint, not a command. Understanding how duplicate content, parameterized URLs, and cross-domain scenarios interact with canonical signals can help you avoid indexing surprises. You can sharpen your skills with these SEO interview questions and practical tests. To build a stronger foundation, explore related resources like image CDN strategy MCQs, review local search ranking factor practice, and study IndexNow instant indexing interview questions.
