1.3 CanonicalisationHighVerified
Canonical in <body>
A rel=canonical only counts in the head. If it is injected into the body, often by a script, Google ignores it and the page behaves as if it has no canonical.
What it is
rel=canonical placed outside the head.
Why it matters
Only head canonicals are honoured; a body one is ignored, so consolidation silently fails.
How to fix it
Move it into <head>.
How to find it on your site
- View source and confirm the canonical sits inside the head.
- If it is in the body, treat it as ineffective.
- Find the component or script injecting it in the wrong place.
- Move it into the head, ideally server-rendered.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
An ignored canonical means no consolidation, so duplicate signals stay split until it is placed correctly.
Impact
Medium-high; silent failure. Direct.
Evidence
Canonical must be in the head. Google Search Central, Consolidate duplicate URLs (canonicalization)
Sources