Hreflang Checker
Review hreflang annotations for language and regional targeting, then identify invalid codes, duplicate targets, missing self-references, and gaps in fallback handling before deployment.
What this tool checks
Language and Region Syntax
Checks whether hreflang values use recognizable language and optional region formats so you can separate likely syntax problems from valid targeting choices. Review any flagged value against the language or market the page is actually intended to serve before editing the annotation.
Self-References and Fallback Coverage
Checks whether each page includes a self-referencing hreflang entry and whether an x-default fallback is present when your implementation needs a non-language-specific destination. Use these findings to confirm that every alternate page participates in the same intended cluster rather than treating x-default as mandatory for every site.
Duplicate Language or Region Entries
Identifies repeated hreflang values that point to more than one candidate URL for the same language or regional audience. Resolve duplicates by deciding which page is the intended alternate for that audience, then keep the annotations consistent across the related pages.
Why Hreflang Consistency Matters
Hreflang annotations help search engines understand which localized page is intended for a particular language or regional audience. They work best as a consistent set across alternate versions, so conflicting, incomplete, or duplicated annotations can make the intended relationship harder to interpret. Use the checker to find implementation issues, then verify that each target page, language choice, and fallback matches the site's actual localization strategy.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use x-default?
Use x-default when you have a page that should serve as the fallback for visitors whose language or region is not specifically represented by another hreflang entry. It is especially useful for language selectors or neutral landing pages, but the correct choice depends on how your localized URLs are organized.
Why include a self-referencing hreflang tag?
A self-reference makes the current page part of the same alternate-language set it declares for other versions. Check that each localized page points to itself and to the intended alternates, because incomplete or inconsistent sets are harder to maintain and interpret correctly.