Glossary · SEO & AI searchTOFU
Hreflang
The short answer
Hreflang is an HTML attribute that tells search engines which language and regional version of a page to show to which users. If you have an Indian page and a US page with similar content, hreflang helps ensure Indian searchers see the Indian page and US searchers the US page.
Example: en-IN for English in India, en-US for English in the United States, hi-IN for Hindi in India.
Implementation rules
- Every version lists every other version, including itself
- Annotations are reciprocal — if A points to B, B must point to A
- Use valid language and region codes
- Include an
x-defaultfor users who match no version - Each version keeps a self-referencing canonical
hreflang example
A page available in Indian English and US English would include, on both versions:
- en-IN → https://example.com/in/page/
- en-US → https://example.com/us/page/
- x-default → https://example.com/page/
See international SEO.
Hreflang in practice
A company has English pages for India, the UK and the US. Hreflang tags tell search engines which version to show to users in each country.
Hreflang essentials
- Reciprocal tags between versions
- Correct language and region codes
- An x-default for other users
- Consistency with canonicals
Common hreflang mistakes
- Missing return links
- Wrong language or region codes
- Hreflang pointing to non-canonical URLs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need hreflang for one English site serving everyone?
No. Hreflang matters when you have multiple versions targeting different languages or regions.
Where can hreflang be placed?
In the HTML head, in HTTP headers, or in the XML sitemap.
Does hreflang help with translations?
It signals which version to show; the content still needs proper translation and localisation.
What happens if hreflang is wrong?
Search engines may ignore it and show the wrong version, or treat pages as duplicates.
Is hreflang needed for one-language sites?
Only if you have separate versions for different countries in the same language.
Is hreflang needed for India and the UAE in English?
If you have separate English pages tailored for each country, hreflang helps search engines show the right one.
Related terms
Full glossaryTalk to a strategist
Thirty minutes. Your numbers. A straight answer.
Book a strategy call with the people who'd actually run your account. We'll tell you what we'd do — or that you don't need us yet.