Quick Reference
Element Code: DU-008
Issue: Different URLs serve byte-for-byte identical content
Impact: Pure duplicate content issue, one version will be filtered
Fix: Implement redirects or canonicals to primary URL
Detection: Screaming Frog, hash comparison
What Is This Issue?
Exact duplicates are byte-for-byte identical. Search engines will filter to show only one version, and they may not choose the one you prefer.
Why This Matters for Your Website
Only one exact duplicate will rank. Without guidance, Google chooses which one, potentially the wrong URL.
How to Fix This Issue
- Identify exact duplicates: Content hash comparison
- Choose canonical: Which URL should rank?
- Implement: 301 redirect or canonical tag
Tools for Detection
- Screaming Frog: Hash-based duplicate detection
TL;DR (The Simple Version)
You have URLs with exactly identical content. Use 301 redirects or canonical tags to tell search engines which version to index.
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