x-default
x-default is the hreflang default/fallback version used when no language/region match is found.
Definition
x-default is a special hreflang value that specifies the default page to show when a user’s language/region doesn’t match any annotated versions. It’s often used for language selectors or a default English page.
Why it matters
- Reduces wrong-language results for multilingual sites
- Provides a clear fallback instead of letting engines guess
- Improves consistency with canonical/hreflang signals
How to implement
- Annotate each language page with reciprocal hreflang tags
- Add an x-default alternate pointing to the default version
- Use self-canonicals and avoid cross-language canonicals
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FAQ
Common questions about this term.