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Aback Audit

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Hreflang Tag Generator for HTML, headers and sitemaps

List the language and region versions of a page and get correct hreflang annotations in the format you need. Every code is validated and common mistakes, such as en-UK, are caught.

Generate hreflang

Add each version of the page. The annotations update as you type.

One per line: the hreflang code, a space, then the absolute address.

hreflang.html

    Why use the Hreflang Generator

    Three formats

    HTML link tags for the head, an HTTP Link header for PDFs and other files, and xhtml:link entries for an XML sitemap.

    Validated codes

    Language codes are checked against ISO 639-1 and regions against ISO 3166-1, with a suggestion for common mistakes.

    x-default

    Add the fallback page for visitors whose language you do not serve.

    Private

    Everything runs in your browser.

    When to use the Hreflang Generator

    Multilingual sites

    Connect the English, German and French versions of every page.

    Regional stores

    Separate en-US, en-GB and en-AU pages that differ by price or spelling.

    Language selectors

    Point x-default at the page that lets visitors pick a language.

    Large sites

    Move annotations into the sitemap instead of every page head.

    PDF documents

    Annotate files without a head with the HTTP Link header.

    Migrations

    Rebuild annotations after a change of url structure.

    Understanding Hreflang

    How to use the generator

    1. 1Versions. Add one row per version: its language code and its absolute url.
    2. 2x-default. Optionally add the page for everyone else.
    3. 3Format. Choose HTML, HTTP header or XML sitemap.
    4. 4Publish on every version. Each version must list all versions, itself included. The output is the same for all of them.

    The codes

    A code is a language, optionally followed by a region: en, en-GB, pt-BR, zh-Hant. The language uses ISO 639-1 and the region ISO 3166-1 alpha-2. A region alone, such as us, is not valid. The United Kingdom is GB, not UK.

    Common mistakes

    Missing return links, where page A points to B but B does not point back, make search engines ignore the pair. So do relative urls, urls that redirect, and urls blocked by robots.txt or marked noindex. Use one method per page set: tags, headers or the sitemap.

    Privacy

    The generator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to Aback or anywhere else, and your last input is kept in this browser so a reload does not lose it.

    Related tools and guides

    Hreflang Checkerhreflang tells search engines which language version of a page to show to whom. Check the codes, the self reference and the x-default before the wrong version shows up in the wrong country.XML Sitemap GeneratorPaste your urls, choose the defaults and download a valid sitemap.xml. Every url is validated, duplicates are removed, and you can set lastmod, changefreq and priority per line.Meta Tag GeneratorWrite the head of a page with a live preview of the search result and the social card. Copy the tags into your template when they look right.Canonical CheckerThe canonical link tells search engines which url is the real one when several show the same content. Check that it exists, that it is absolute and that it points at a working page.Redirect GeneratorPaste a list of old and new urls and get redirect rules for your server or platform. The generator flattens chains, catches loops and duplicates, and handles wildcards.SEO CheckerFind the technical problems that keep a page out of search results. The checker reads the page the way a search crawler does and lists what to fix first, with the evidence behind every verdict.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is hreflang?

    An annotation that tells search engines which language and region each version of a page is for, so they show people the right one.

    Do I need x-default?

    It is optional but recommended. It names the page for visitors whose language or region you do not target.

    Should a page reference itself?

    Yes. Every version lists every version, including itself.

    Is it en-UK or en-GB?

    en-GB. The region code for the United Kingdom in ISO 3166-1 is GB.

    Which format should I use?

    HTML tags for most sites, the sitemap for large sites with many versions, and the HTTP header for files such as PDFs.

    Does Bing use hreflang?

    Bing prefers the content-language meta tag and the lang attribute, but also reads hreflang. Use both.

    How do I check the live annotations?

    Run the hreflang checker on one of the versions. It validates the codes and the return links.

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