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Glossary of Terms

We have compiled this list of terms and definitions to help you better understand the terminology used within the web development community.

Hreflang Tag

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The Hreflang Tag is an HTML attribute that tells search engines you have multiple versions of a page for different languages or regions. It helps Google and others show the right version based on a visitor's language and location. It is essential for any site serving content in more than one language.

Hreflang Tag

The hreflang tag is the specific HTML element — <link rel="alternate" hreflang="..."> — that you place in your page's <head> to declare each language or regional version of that page. While "hreflang" describes the overall system, the hreflang tag is the actual piece of code that makes it work. Each tag identifies one version of the page and includes its URL and target language-region combination.

Why It Matters

  • It is the most common implementation method. Hreflang can be implemented via HTML tags, HTTP headers, or sitemaps. The HTML <link> tag in the <head> is the simplest and most widely used approach.
  • Each tag maps to one version. For a page available in English, French, and Spanish, you need three hreflang tags — plus an x-default. Each tag precisely identifies one URL and its target audience.
  • Tags must be present on every version. The English page needs tags pointing to the French and Spanish versions (and itself). The French page needs tags pointing to the English and Spanish versions (and itself). Every page carries the complete set.
  • Incorrect tags are worse than no tags. Malformed hreflang tags can confuse search engines more than having no tags at all. Incorrect language codes, missing return tags, or URLs that redirect all cause problems.

How to Write the Tags

  1. Use the correct syntax. Each tag follows this format: <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en-us" href="/https://example.com/en/page">. The rel, hreflang, and href attributes are all required.
  2. Place all tags in the <head>. Hreflang tags belong inside the <head> section of your HTML document. Tags placed in the <body> may not be recognized by search engines.
  3. Include a complete set on every page. If you have four language versions, every page needs four hreflang tags (one per version, including itself) plus an x-default tag. Partial sets are treated as incomplete.
  4. Use absolute URLs in the href. Always use full URLs with the protocol: https://example.com/fr/page, not /fr/page. Relative URLs in hreflang tags are not guaranteed to work correctly.
  5. Consider using sitemaps for large sites. If your site has hundreds of pages in multiple languages, managing hreflang tags in the HTML head of every page becomes unwieldy. XML sitemaps offer a cleaner alternative for large-scale implementations.

Common Mistakes

  • Using relative URLs. An href value of /fr/about instead of https://example.com/fr/about can cause parsing errors. Always use absolute URLs with the full domain.
  • Placing tags in the body. HTML <link> elements must be in the <head>. Tags injected into the <body> by JavaScript or template errors may be ignored by crawlers.
  • Forgetting the self-referencing tag. Each page must include a hreflang tag that points to itself. Without it, the set of annotations is considered incomplete.
  • Not matching canonical URLs. If a page has a canonical tag pointing to URL A, but the hreflang tag points to URL B, the signals conflict. Hreflang URLs and canonical URLs should always agree.
Bottom Line: Place a complete set of hreflang tags in the <head> of every language variant, use absolute URLs, include self-references, and make sure every relationship is reciprocal. Well-formed hreflang tags ensure the right audience always finds the right version.
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Synonyms: Language Tag, Multilingual SEO

What Does "Liquid Purple" mean?

noun | / LIK-wid PUR-pul /

  1. (biochemistry) Also known as visual purple or rhodopsin — a light-sensitive receptor protein found in the rods of the retina. It enables vision in dim light by transforming invisible darkness into visible form. Derived from the Greek rhódon (rose) and ópsis (sight), its name reflects its delicate pink hue and vital role in perception.

  2. (modern usage) Liquid Purple — a digital marketing agency specializing in uncovering unseen opportunities and illuminating brands hidden in the digital dark. Much like its biological namesake, Liquid Purple transforms faint signals into clear visibility — revealing what others overlook and bringing businesses into the light.

Origin: From the scientific term rhodopsin, discovered by Franz Christian Boll in 1876; adopted metaphorically by a marketing firm dedicated to visual clarity in the age of algorithms.

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