Prevents duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred URL version to index, improving search engine rankings and avoiding penalties.

Consolidates ranking signals: URL canonicalization ensures that all signals (backlinks, social shares, etc.) point to a single URL, boosting its authority and relevance.

Improves user experience: Canonical URLs provide consistency and clarity for users, reducing confusion and enhancing website usability.

Facilitates tracking and analytics: Having a single canonical URL simplifies tracking and reporting of website performance metrics, enabling more accurate analysis and optimization.

Implementation complexity: Proper canonicalization requires careful configuration and maintenance, especially for large or dynamically generated websites.

Potential for mistakes: Incorrect implementation or mismanagement of canonical tags can lead to unintended consequences, such as loss of traffic or indexation issues.

Dependency on search engine interpretation: Search engines may not always honor canonical tags as expected, leading to discrepancies between canonicalized URLs and actual search results.

Limited control over external factors: Canonicalization may not fully address duplicate content issues caused by external sources or third-party websites.