Add canonical headers for files in Apache2

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Search engines will complain if websites and files do not have a canonical name, and appear under multiple different URLs with the same content. Especially for search engine optimization this is a big no no.

How does that happen

Someone might link to your resource with a tracking link, as example this entry in the webserver log:

xyz.xyz.xyz.xyz - - [20/Dec/2024:01:04:57 +0100] "GET /writings/Add_Geocoordinates_to_your_addresses_in_PostgreSQL_-_Meetup_HH_April_2024.pdf?fbclid=<some random id> HTTP/1.1" 200 1032842 "-" "Mozilla/<some random browser>"

The attached fbclid header makes it obvious that this PDF was posted on Facebook, and then Facebook attaches a semi-random string, it’s called the Facebook Click Identifier. It is used to circumvent Ad-blockers and Third-Party-Cookie Protection and allows Facebook to track the performance of the link.

Pdf on ads' corner

Add canonical headers for files in Apache2

How does that happen