SEO redirects

Mark, that makes total sense and I’m sure you’re right, but personally I wouldn’t count on it. There have been too many problems with implementation of the canonical link, and just to make absolutely sure there is no possibility for confusion, I always use the full URL.

Put it this way: using the full URL is definitely correct. Using a relative URL along with a base tag is probably correct. Given the stakes, I prefer to go with "definitely."

On further research, Google has this to say here: http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=139394

"Can the link be relative or absolute?

The rel="canonical" attribute can be used with relative or absolute links, but we recommend using absolute links to minimize potential confusion or difficulties. If your document specifies a base link, any relative links will be relative to that base link."

So in a sense we’re both right -- Google says the relative link plus base link will work, but they also recommend (for some non-specified reason) to use the absolute link anyway.

It probably doesn’t matter. It’s probably fine either way. Since it’s trivial to use the absolute link, I say you might as well do that, but if you already have it coded correctly with the relative link you’re probably fine. Sorry for the confusion...