What is URL canonicalization?

[jconnel]

I hear this term regularly in SEO forums. I want to know what this actually means. Is it a way to increase the number of hits to my website? Something like Link farm? Please let me know and also please explain its implementation.

Thanks in Advance!!

[almedajohnson]

One definition says Canonicalization is the process of picking the best url when there are several choices, and it usually refers to home pages.

Another says it's a process of standardize the URLS. It means evenif you have different syntax for the same url but that will be treated as same page reference

[abrahambaldwin]

i think URL canonicalization is the process by which URLs are modified and standardized in a consistent manner. ...