Invalid Hreflang Language Code

Description

The page contains hreflang tags with invalid language codes.

How to Fix

Update the hreflang tags to use valid ISO 639-1 language codes.

Detailed Analysis

1. What Causes This Issue

The "Invalid Hreflang Language Code" issue arises when the hreflang attribute in HTML code, which is used to specify the language and intended audience of a webpage, contains incorrect or unsupported language codes. This can occur due to:

• Typos or Misspellings: Simple errors in typing the language or country code.
• Unsupported Codes: Using language codes or country codes that are not recognized by the ISO 639-1 (language codes) and ISO 3166-1 Alpha 2 (country codes) standards.
• Improper Syntax: Incorrect format or structure of the hreflang attribute such as missing dashes or incorrect placement within the HTML.
• Invalid Combinations: Using country codes that do not exist or do not correspond to the specified language.
• Misuse of Regional Codes: Using a regional code without specifying a language or vice versa.

2. Why It's Important

• SEO and Search Engine Behavior: Search engines like Google use hreflang tags to understand the regional targeting of a webpage. Invalid codes can lead to misinterpretation, causing the wrong version of the page to rank for specific regional queries.
• User Experience: Ensuring that users are directed to the correct language version of a website enhances user experience, reducing bounce rates and increasing engagement.
• Duplicate Content: Incorrect hreflang implementations can cause search engines to see multiple versions of a page as duplicate content, potentially leading to penalties or reduced visibility.
• Competitive Advantage: Proper hreflang implementation can provide an advantage in international SEO by ensuring that content is correctly targeted and accessible to the right audience.

3. Best Practices to Prevent It

• Use ISO Standard Codes: Always refer to the ISO 639-1 for language codes and ISO 3166-1 Alpha 2 for country codes to ensure compliance with recognized standards.
• Validate Hreflang Tags: Use tools like Google Search Console or online validators to check the correctness of hreflang tags.
• Consistent Implementation: Ensure that hreflang tags are implemented consistently across all pages that have alternate language versions.
• Avoid Unnecessary Complications: Only use country codes when necessary; if a language is not region-specific, it's best to use the language code alone (e.g., "fr" for French).
• Regular Audits: Periodically review hreflang implementations as part of your SEO audits to catch any errors early.

4. Examples

Good Case

<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/fr/" hreflang="fr" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/fr-ca/" hreflang="fr-CA" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en/" hreflang="en" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en-gb/" hreflang="en-GB" />

• Explanation: The language codes ("fr", "en") and regional codes ("CA", "GB") are used correctly, adhering to ISO standards.

Bad Case

<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/french/" hreflang="french" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/france/" hreflang="france" />
<link rel="alternate" href="https://example.com/en-uk/" hreflang="en-uk" />

• Explanation: The use of non-standard codes like "french" and "france" is incorrect. The correct language code for French is "fr", and the correct regional code for the United Kingdom is "GB", not "uk".

By following these guidelines and best practices, you can ensure that your website's hreflang implementation is accurate and effective, thereby enhancing both SEO performance and user experience across different regions and languages.