Solving the Canonical URL Conundrum for Filtered Collections in Shopify

Let me spin you a yarn about our little journey through the Land of Shopify. Picture us, tirelessly tweaking settings and customizing themes with a fervor that could rival the energy of a kid on a sugar high. There we were, facing a puzzle presented by the curious case of canonical URLs. It seemed simple—tethering our filtered collection pages to a singular, canonical URL. Yet, just when triumph felt within reach, we found ourselves tripping over lines of code and tiny bits of frustration. This story is how we navigated this labyrinth and emerged victorious, ready to share our treasure map with you all.

Our starting point: the curious query from a fellow traveler. They shared their plight of wandering URLs that included tags when really, all roads should lead to one pure collection page. Let's unravel the steps we took to achieve clarity in our Shopify store, shan't we?

Step 1: Understanding the True Shape of Our URL Landscape

Before we journey onward, it's essential to grasp the lay of the land. Our task was tethering those scattered URLs to a singular, unfiltered canonical URL. Armed with the Shopify default canonical tag, we found it stripping away query parameters, but alas—it clung stubbornly to tags, pagination included! A real stickler for details when details weren't desired.

So here's the code snippet that sparked the quest:

<link rel="canonical" href="{{ canonical_url | split: '?' | first}}" />

Ah, yes, that touch of liquid logic is usually a boon, but not quite here.

Step 2: Enter the Theme Editor’s Domain

We lifted the hood of our Shopify store, delving into the Theme Editor. This was our workshop, where changes could make or break our journey. We sought out the theme.liquid or potentially a layout file under the Layouts folder. 'Aha!' we thought, pushing forth with our new-found plan.

Within mount theme.liquid, we updated our trusty canonical tag, adding a layer of liquid magic to banish those pesky filters and pagination demons:

{% if current_tags.size > 0 %}
  <link rel="canonical" href="{{ collection.url }}" />
{% else %}
  <link rel="canonical" href="{{ canonical_url | split: '?' | first}}" />
{% endif %}

The spell was cast: the line decisively checked if tags existed. If they did, it stripped them right off, linking us back to the mother page, unspoiled by the influences of filters.

Step 3: Playing Our Part in the World of SEO

With our canonical URLs harmonized, we turned to the wider web to sing out our SEO strategy. Linking back to the base collection page ensured Google and its fellow bots acknowledged the true captain of our URL ship. This would help our domain authority sail smoothly—keeping link equity concentrated and visitors delighted in browsing magnificent, unfiltered collections.

Our little tweak bridged the past chaos with a newfound coherence. It reminded us that sometimes, simplicity is the hardest thing to achieve in this vast expanse of code and commerce.

Step 4: Testing and Reveling in the Triumph

Before throwing our hands up in sunny victory, we rigorously tested. Ensuring that no stone—or line of code—was left unturned. With dignity and digital prowess, we checked URLs with and without tags, tested pagination scenarios, and monitored our search engine standing like watching a simmering pot.

In our grand adventure, the very fabric of our store had shifted subtly. Our URLs, like obedient children, now reported back reliably to their canonical parent. And with that, our story of Shopify sorcery had reached its end, but not before taking a moment to share it with you—our wise, fellow traveler.

A Parting Thought

Folks, as we strolled hand in hand through this digital woods, the lesson lay woven into our steps: though coding can test our patience, it also becomes a learning landscape where new solutions form out of legacy challenges. And maybe, just maybe, we can have a bit of fun along the way, reveling in both the small victories and the grand revelations.

By all means, try it out yourself, dear reader, and may your Shopify store be forever blessed with perfect canonical harmony.