hreflang
An HTML attribute that tells search engines which language and region a page targets.
Key takeaways
- hreflang is an HTML attribute that tells search engines which language and region a page targets.
- Add hreflang tags linking every language version to every other, including itself.
- Avoid: forgetting the return link, so tags are ignored.
What is hreflang?
hreflang is essential for multilingual or multi region sites. Mistakes (mismatched tags, missing self references) are common and cause the wrong page to rank in the wrong country.
Google documents the required format in its guide to localised versions of pages.
Why hreflang matters for SEO in 2026
hreflang tells search engines which language or regional version of a page to show each searcher. Without it, the wrong version can rank, or versions can compete with each other as duplicates.
For a wider view of where this fits, see our full SEO glossary or explore the SEO and GEO service we run for clients.
How to apply hreflang on your site
Knowing the concept is only half of it. Work through these steps in order to put hreflang into practice on your own pages:
- Add hreflang tags linking every language version to every other, including itself.
- Use correct language and region codes, plus an x-default for everyone else.
- Make sure each version is indexable and self-canonical.
Common mistakes to avoid
Most sites that struggle with hreflang fall into the same traps. Check your pages against each of these before moving on:
- Forgetting the return link, so tags are ignored.
- Using country codes where language codes are needed.
- Pointing hreflang at redirected or noindexed URLs.
Questions about hreflang
An HTML attribute that tells search engines which language and region a page targets.
hreflang tells search engines which language or regional version of a page to show each searcher. Without it, the wrong version can rank, or versions can compete with each other as duplicates.
Start here: add hreflang tags linking every language version to every other, including itself. Then use correct language and region codes, plus an x-default for everyone else.
The most common is forgetting the return link, so tags are ignored. Another is using country codes where language codes are needed.