Hreflang
An HTML attribute that tells search engines the language and region a page targets, for international sites.
In depth
What it really means
Hreflang tells search engines which language and region a page is meant for, so they can serve the right version to the right users. It is essential for international or multilingual sites with equivalent pages in different languages.
It is notoriously fiddly. Mismatched or incomplete hreflang sets cause the wrong pages to show, so accuracy matters.
Best practices
- Use hreflang only when you have genuine language or region variants.
- Make hreflang references reciprocal across versions.
- Include a self-referencing hreflang on each page.
- Use correct language and region codes.
- Audit hreflang regularly for mismatches.
FAQs
What is hreflang?
An HTML attribute that tells search engines the language and region a page targets, for international sites.
When do I need hreflang?
When you have equivalent pages in different languages or for different regions and want the right one served.
Why is hreflang tricky?
References must be reciprocal and use correct codes. Mismatches cause the wrong page to show.
Does hreflang affect rankings?
Not directly. It helps serve the right regional version, which improves the user experience and reduces duplication issues.
Do single-language sites need it?
No. Hreflang is only for sites with multiple language or regional versions.
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