seolint
seolint

Rules / hreflang rules

hreflang.return

Default
error
Plugin
hreflang

A page that an hreflang link points to links back to the page.

Why: Google ignores hreflang links between two pages unless both pages point to each other. A version that forgets to link back cuts the pair apart.

The rule compares the pages that seolint lints, by their URL, so it needs a host. Links to pages outside the lint, such as another domain, are skipped.

When off: one-way hreflang links pass.

<!-- On https://example.com/en/ -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/" />

<!-- On https://example.com/fr/: ✗ Fails, because it does not link to /en/ -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/" />

<!-- On https://example.com/fr/: ✓ Passes -->
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://example.com/en/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://example.com/fr/" />

References