Hreflang Tags Validator

Validate hreflang annotations from a web page or from a Sitemap with xhtml:link. We check syntax, duplicates, self-reference, optional reciprocity, and more.

Sign in required. To prevent abuse, you must be logged in to run validations. We make on-demand fetches of the URLs you submit and do not store their content.

References

Results

Enter a URL or paste code, then click Validate.

FAQ: hreflang validation

1) Do hreflang codes need to be lowercase?
Search engines treat them case-insensitively, but using lowercase (e.g., en-gb) keeps your annotations consistent and avoids audit noise.

2) Do I need a self-referential hreflang?
It’s recommended so each page lists itself among alternates. This reduces ambiguity and helps validators and crawlers confirm the set.

3) Should I include x-default?
Optional. Use it for a global fallback, such as a language selector or neutral homepage.

4) HTML vs Sitemap — which is better?
Both work. Pick one method to simplify maintenance. Sitemaps scale better for large sites; HTML works well for smaller sets.

5) What breaks reciprocity?
Missing alternates on some pages, mixed protocols (http/https), inconsistent trailing slashes, or pointing to a non-canonical URL on one side of the pair.

Usage note: This validator makes on-demand requests only (no storage), follows up to 5 redirects, and uses the UA HotaHreflangValidator/1.0 (+https://hota.digital). Reciprocity checks may fetch several alternates. Validate only URLs you control.