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x-default

x-default is a value in hreflang that specifies the default page to be shown to users who do not exactly match any language or region. It is set on the global home or language selection page, and is not required for all sites.

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x-default is used to specify the language selection page, global home, and default country page on multilingual or multiregional sites. This can be used as a reference when there is no page that exactly matches the user's language and region.

For example, if a global site provides Korean, English, and Japanese pages and operates a separate language selection home, that page can be designated as x-default.

x-default is not required for all sites. If the URL structure for each language and region is simple or the basic page is unclear, you should judge it according to the actual user flow rather than adding it indiscriminately.

Key takeaways

  • This is a value that specifies the default page in hreflang.
  • It can be used on the language selection page or global home.
  • This is used for reference when there is no page for the exact language/region.
  • It is connected to multi-regional SEO and global site UX.

References

Frequently asked questions

What page should I specify for x-default?

It is common to land on a global home, language selection page, or English default page when the user comes from a language code that cannot be selected. Designating a page dedicated to a specific country as x-default may provide an unintended experience to users in other countries.

What problems arise if x-default is not set?

Since Google does not know which page to handle as the default, unexpected pages may be exposed to multinational users. It's not a total hreflang error, but it can lead to poor user experience in countries without language settings.

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