x-default (hreflang)
x-default (hreflang) ensures the right language or region variant is served, reducing confusion, consolidating signals, and improving engagement in international markets.
x-default (hreflang) enables correct language/region targeting for equivalent pages, reducing wrong-language impressions and consolidating signals. It matters for usability and duplication control, particularly on sites with multiple locales or markets. Implementation influences URL strategy, reciprocal annotations, and sitemaps.
Key Takeaways:
- •Ensure reciprocal annotations and clean sitemaps
- •Validate alternates; include x-default when useful
Context:
A marketplace startup seeking local visibility.
Action:
They map language/region equivalents and implement reciprocal annotations in sitemaps and templates, focusing on x-default (hreflang) hygiene.
Result:
Wrong‑language impressions decline; engagement and conversions rise in target locales.
Related Terms
Hreflang
An annotation that connects language/region variants of equivalent pages so the right version is served to the right users.
ccTLD (country-code top-level domain)
ccTLD (country-code top-level domain) aligns content with AI-driven experiences and answer engines so your expertise is selected, cited, and trusted across evolving search surfaces.
Multilingual SEO
Multilingual SEO ensures the right language or region variant is served, reducing confusion, consolidating signals, and improving engagement in international markets.
Geo-targeting
Geo-targeting increases local discoverability and intent-matching, helping nearby customers find accurate, trustworthy information and take action with confidence.
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