Python Script Finds Duplicate and Near-Duplicate Pages in a Sitemap
A tutorial explains how to detect duplicate pages across a website using only Python's standard library. Duplicates often arise unintentionally from CMS URL changes, tracking parameters, print views, or template-based pages. The script reads a sitemap, fetches each page, strips the shared template, and compares content by identical HTML, identical main content, and similarity scored with difflib. Matching pages are grouped into clusters with canonical checks and a suggested keeper URL, and results are exported to CSV with a console summary and a CI-friendly exit code. The author notes that Google does not treat duplicate content as a penalty in itself, but it can complicate search tracking and user experience.
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