Why it matters
hreflang only works when every page in a language cluster lists every other page, itself included, and each of those pages lists it back. One missing return link and Google ignores that pair. With five languages that's twenty-five links to keep in step, often spread across templates, CDN headers and sitemaps.
The Hreflang Generator writes a correct set for one page. This validator checks the whole cluster as it actually is. It collects the annotations from wherever they live, draws the return-link matrix, checks codes against the browser's language data, and checks canonicals and status, because hreflang pointing at a non-canonical or redirecting URL is ignored too. Then it writes the full corrected set for every page.
How it works
- InputPages' hreflang tags, or a sitemap
- In your browserEvery pair checked for return links and codes
- OutputA matrix, missing tags and a cluster graph
Where it fits in a designer's workflow
- Plan
- Design
- Build
- Test
- Launch
By the numbers
Show the numbers as a table
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Pages in the cluster | 4 |
| Language codes | 5 |
| Errors | 4 |
| Warnings | 6 |
| Missing return links | 2 |
How to use it
- Paste each page as '=== URL' followed by its tags, or paste a sitemap, or fetch one page.
- Read the matrix: red cells are links with no return.
- Work through the findings, codes and return links first.
- Copy the corrected tag set onto each page, or into your sitemap.
FAQ
Why does Google ignore one-way hreflang?
Return links prove both pages agree. Without them anyone could claim to be an alternate version of your page.
Do I need x-default?
It's optional but recommended: it tells Google which page to show people whose language isn't listed, often a language picker or the main site.
Is en-UK valid?
No. Region codes are ISO 3166, and the UK's is GB, so use en-GB. 'UK' is caught and corrected.
Can I mix HTML tags and a sitemap?
Google accepts both, but if they disagree the result is hard to predict. The validator flags pages whose sources differ.
What does Fetch send to leej.uk?
The addresses, which leej.uk reads once each as LeejTools/1.0, plus the alternates found on them, up to 20 pages. Only a daily count is kept.
