Quick Definition
Identical or very similar content appearing on multiple URLs, which can confuse search engines and dilute rankings.
In-Depth Definition
Duplicate content occurs when substantially identical content is accessible through multiple URLs on the same site or across different sites. This confuses search engines about which version to index and rank, potentially diluting link equity and causing ranking problems for all versions.
Duplicate content is especially problematic for eCommerce sites (product variations, filter URLs), content platforms (pagination, syndication), and international sites (similar content across regional domains). Resolving duplicates is a fundamental technical SEO task.
Solutions include canonical tags to specify preferred URLs, 301 redirects for permanently moved content, robots.txt and noindex directives for non-canonical versions, URL parameter handling in Google Search Console, and content differentiation strategies for legitimately similar pages.
Related Terms
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