How Hreflang Tags Generator Works

This tool turns a simple list of language codes and URLs into valid hreflang annotations. It helps you produce consistent output, reduce formatting mistakes, and keep your alternates aligned across language and regional versions of the same page.

Step-by-Step

• 1) Add alternates: Enter one alternate per line using the pattern hreflang, URL (for example, en-gb, https://site.com/uk/page).
• 2) Set a canonical: Provide a canonical URL for the group when you want an XML sitemap snippet (the tool will use your first URL as a fallback).
• 3) Optional x-default: Add an x-default URL if you have a global selector page or a best-match fallback.
• 4) Choose format: Generate HTML <link rel="alternate"> tags or an XML sitemap fragment that uses xhtml:link.
• 5) Copy and publish: Copy the result into your template head section or paste the snippet into your sitemap workflow.

Key Features

HTML Link Tag Output

Create ready-to-paste rel="alternate" tags with the correct hreflang attribute format. This is ideal for CMS themes, server-rendered pages, and static site templates that manage head markup.

XML Sitemap Fragment Output

Produce a clean sitemap fragment for a single URL group, including <loc> and the required xhtml:link elements. This is useful when you maintain hreflang via sitemaps rather than HTML head tags.

Flexible Input Parsing

Enter alternates quickly using comma-separated values on each line. The generator trims extra spaces and keeps the output consistent even if your input is messy.

x-default Support

Include an optional x-default annotation for language selection pages or fallback destinations. This can improve the experience for users whose language or region does not match a specific alternate.

Copy, Download, and Reuse

Copy output with one click, or download it as a text file for handoff to developers, SEO teammates, or your release checklist.

Use Cases

• International ecommerce: Map product pages across markets (for example, US vs UK vs EU) to reduce duplicate content confusion and show the correct currency and shipping options.
• Multilingual blogs: Connect translated articles so search engines understand they are equivalents rather than duplicates.
• Regional landing pages: Target region-specific variants like en-us and en-ca when content differs by pricing, compliance, or offers.
• SaaS documentation: Keep documentation pages aligned across languages while preserving localized URLs and navigation.
• Language selector pages: Add an x-default URL to route users to a selector or global homepage when no direct match exists.
• Head template validation: Generate a reliable reference snippet to compare against what your CMS outputs.

Whether you manage hreflang in templates or sitemaps, consistent generation reduces small mistakes that can prevent search engines from interpreting your alternates correctly.

Optimization Tips

Use correct language and region codes

Hreflang values typically use a language code (like en or pl) and can optionally include a region (like en-gb or pt-br). Keep the pattern consistent across the entire group so each page references the same set of alternates.

Keep alternates fully reciprocal

For best results, every page in a language group should reference every other alternate (and itself) using the same list. If you use sitemaps, ensure the same set appears for each URL entry in the cluster.

Decide on HTML vs sitemap management

If your templates are easy to control, HTML link tags are straightforward. If you generate pages across multiple systems or need centralized management, sitemap hreflang can be simpler, but requires correct namespaces and a disciplined publishing process.

FAQ